₦airaland Forum

SoftSport:
Gowon did what he thought was best to keep Nigeria together and in a time of big problems, making peace was not always easy.

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, reacting through the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ikechukwu Oji, insisted that Gowon was the one who reneged on the Aburi Peace Accord, adding that it was quite surprising that the former military head of state was attempting to rewrite history by giving a wrong account of events that happened during the time.

Oji in a telephone interview with our correspondent said the Aburi Peace Accord was signed and the specific terms and conditions were stated in a document that was available in the archive.

He blamed the war on Gowon, saying that the Aburi Accord was agreed to douse tension and stop the impending war, but the former head of state came back from Aburi and was wrongly advised by some international bodies and locals.
He said "We are quite surprised at the utterances of Gowon concerning the civil war. Gowon, who is meant to be an elder statesman appeared to be rewriting history and at his age, he should not be afraid of saying the truth.

“All the accounts stated that the Aburi Accord was agreed to douse tension and stop the impending war, that all the parties should go back to their regions and maintain the status quo ante. The agreement was signed and the specific terms and conditions are there in the document.

“Unfortunately, after Gowon got home from Ghana, he was wrongly advised by some international bodies and locals not to implement the agreement that had been signed.

“The Aburi Accord is still available in archives and other platforms. It is not an Igbo or Biafran document. It is a document that was signed in Ghana.”

Oji said assuming Gowon had said some of the things he did then that led to the civil war, he wouldn’t have done them if he was rightly counselled, just like Ojukwu said before he died.

“It would have been more honourable and statesmanlike on the part of Gowon not to come publicly and lie that Ojukwu caused the war. That was a blatant lie because that was not the case.

“Ojukwu never preempted Gowon in making any announcement nor renege on his side of the agreement, but Gowon actually went ahead to make pronouncements that were contradictory to the Aburi agreement and this was what led to the sharp disagreement,” he said.

Oji advised Gowon to concentrate on how the insecurity and killings in Benue and Plateau states would be addressed, instead of dishing out falsehood.

“Instead of Gowon to advise on how the three R’s – Reconciliation, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation – which were part of the proposal after the civil war can be implemented and how the insecurity and killings in Benue and Plateau states can be addressed, he is busy dishing out falsehoods to defend his complicity in the civil war,” he said.

Another group, the Coalition of South-East Youth Leaders, called for historical clarity on the Nigerian civil war and the role of the Aburi Accord.
In an interview, the President General of the association, Goodluck Ibem, blamed Gowon for the war, insisting that the former head of state was not statesmanlike in his utterances which attributed the escalation of the war solely to Ojukwu.

He said Gowon should acknowledge the fundamental issues of non-compliance that arose from the March 1967 peace agreement reached in Aburi, Ghana.

Ibem said, “The Aburi Accord was a crucial step toward peace and understanding between the regions of Nigeria. The negotiations and agreements made during this time were intended to foster unity and address the growing tensions in the country.

“But the failure to implement these agreements consistently by the Gowon administration was a primary factor that led to the tragic outbreak of the Nigerian civil war in 1967.

“To clarify, had General Gowon honoured the commitments outlined in the Aburi Accord, the descent into civil conflict could have potentially been avoided.

“The agreement was recognised as a pathway to peace, and its repudiation only served to exacerbate the already fragile situation, ultimately resulting in widespread suffering and loss of life.”

He, however, called on Nigerians, particularly the leaders, to engage in a thoughtful and factual discourse regarding the past with a collective responsibility to educate the present and future generations on the complexities of history, particularly the circumstances that pushed the nation to the brink of war.

“As a coalition dedicated to promoting peace and unity in the South East and across Nigeria, we emphasise the importance of understanding our history to build a more inclusive and harmonious future.

“We call on Gen Gowon and other key figures from that era to engage in meaningful dialogue—one that prioritises truth, accountability, and mutual understanding.

“Together, let us work towards a nation where our differences are celebrated and our shared humanity is acknowledged,” he said.

[b]What has happened to our compassion as a People?
We pleaded that the President should show Leadership and visit Benue and Niger States in the spirit of deep national mourning, to offer compassion and solidarity to families torn apart by the senseless massacre of over 200 nnocent Nigerians in Benue State and flooding that killed similar number in Niger State.

But what we saw in Benue visit was instead of a solemn, reflective visit, a display that would have been more befitting for the commissioning of reconstructed Enugu-Makurdi highway, a critical road connecting South and Northern Nigeria which had become impassable for years.

[b]The President arrived not in mourning cloth but in celebratory agbada attire, like it was an occasion for joy.
Even more heartbreaking is the role of the State. Rather than been in mourning mood and weeping declared a public holiday, not for reflection or prayer, but to organize fanfare. Schools were shut down. Children who should be mourning their slaughtered classmates, and parents were instead lined up under the rain, rehearsed to sing and dance for the President. In what kind of country does this happen?

We have tragically arrived at a point where condolence visits have become carnivals. A time that should be marked by silence and solemnity is now polluted by banners, music, and rehearsed spectacles. Precious Nigerian lives have been lost, yet we're clapping, singing, and organizing processions, as though this were campaign rally.

This is not how any compassionate nation behaves. The energy, resources, and logistics poured into this charade could have gone into food supplies, temporary shelters, medical aid, school support, and trauma counseling for grieving families. Instead, we chose optics over empathy.

Look elsewhere: When President Ramaphosa visited Mthatha after the floods in South Africa, there were no drums. No staged crowds. No rented cheers. Just presence, silence, and action. When Prime Minister Modi went to the site of a crash, no one lined up to welcome him. He came, he mourned, he acted. That is what leadership looks like in moments of pain.
We must ask ourselves: What kind of people have we become?

Enough of this culture of impunity. We are not at war yet our nation is bleeding, and we are clapping. It is r not only insensitive, it is dangerous.
Let us not forget: These were human beings, children, mothers, fathers whose blood cries out for justice.

When very sad incidents like this turns to campaign or festival, our Nation Losing Its Soul.
A new Nigeria is POssible!-PO

Tears flowed freely on Saturday as grieving residents of Munga Lalau and Munga Doso communities in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State buried scores of villagers killed by suspected herdsmen.

The communities were thrown into mourning after the assailants stormed the villages around 2am on Friday. Eyewitnesses said the attackers, numbering over 50, invaded the villages on motorcycles and opened fire indiscriminately on sleeping residents.

“We have counted 42 bodies so far, with many still missing,” a soldier who participated in the rescue operation told Sunday PUNCH.

The Chairman of the Munga Youth Forum, Suleiman Joel, confirmed that many people were killed.

He said, “We are still recovering the dead bodies, but I can tell you that the casualty figure is high. These are not isolated killings. It is a calculated extermination. People who returned to their homes based on security assurances have now been killed. What do we tell their families?”

Residents, who spoke to Sunday PUNCH, said the attackers, armed with AK-47 rifles and machetes, moved from house to house, burning homes and killing anyone in sight.

“We didn’t know where to run to,” said Soja Emmanuel, a survivor. “They came around 2am, shooting sporadically. People jumped out of their homes into the bush. Some didn’t make it.”

Families express anger at burial

During the burial on Saturday, some of the victims’ families were filled with sorrow as they recounted the way their relatives were killed.
A community leader, who lost two of his brothers in the attack, Augustine Munga, called for swift government intervention to end the bloodshed and bring the perpetrators to justice.

“The mass burial took place here in Munga Lalau and was conducted by soldiers and other security personnel,” Munga added. Another resident, who lost four relatives, suggested that the attackers were hired by herders to unleash mayhem on the communities.

“We all slept in the bush yesterday. The sound of gunshots that rent the air was beyond conventional herdsmen. We fled to the mountains and returned home this morning to see our houses razed,” he sobbed, struggling to utter words during a phone interview with one of our correspondents.

Kemetian:
But you are the ones fleeing your paradise to live in their territory while crying secession.

Like a woman that claims she’s a virgin, yet every night she’s on hook up duties, collecting doggie.

Ikaeniyan0:
If una like make una do one year sit at home, I no send una. Don't just bring the nonsense to the south west and south south

Ikaeniyan0:
Every part of the south east can be on lockdown, nobody cares. Economic activity is going on in the South West and South South

REMEMBRANCE DAY 30 MAY 2025

Ahead of 30 May Remembrance Day, Amnesty International will be highlighting gross human rights violations by Nigerian security forces across
the south east geo-political zone. Since 2015, the organization has been documenting ruthless extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances and other human rights violations in the region.

The Nigerian security forces, led by the military embarked on a chilling campaign of extrajudicial executions and violence resulting in the deaths of at least 150 peaceful pro-Biafra protesters in the south east of the country, according to our investigation released on 24 November 2016.

By far the largest number of pro-Biafra activists were killed on Biafra Remembrance Day on 30 May 2016 when an estimated 1,000 IPOB members and supporters gathered for a rally in Onitsha, Anambra State. The night before the rally, the security forces raided homes and a church where IPOB members were sleeping

On Remembrance Day itself, the security forces shot people in several locations. Amnesty International has not been able to verify the exact number of extrajudicial executions, but estimates that at least 60 people were killed and 70 injured

The right to PEACEFUL dissent must be respected at all times. The Nigerian security agencies must respect and uphold human rights ahead of and after Remembrance Day 30 May 2025

TimeManager:
Sowore must be crazy, I dare him take it up and organize so called rally. This is someone who called himself an activist, who prides himself to have fought against military regimes and who always say he is against military dictatorship yet soliciting for the release of some miscreants glorifying a military junta. If any miscreants want to rally for a dictator, they know the road to Burkina Faso. No miscreants will be allowed on Nigerian soil to celebrate another miscreant in far away Burkina Faso.


-Kiss the truth!

The global human rights body, Amnesty International, says President Bola Tinubu has failed to tackle the insecurity he promised to address after the abduction and killing of the Chief Imam of Maru Jumma’a Mosque, Alkali Salihu Suleiman, and his three children by armed bandits in Zamfara State.

The family was abducted in March during the Ramadan period, and despite the bandits receiving N11 million of the N20 million ransom they demanded, they were subjected to torture and eventually murdered.

Amnesty International, in a statement on Thursday, condemned the killings, pointing to the Nigerian government’s failure to protect its citizens and the lack of accountability for the perpetrators of such violence.

“Amnesty International strongly condemns the gruesome killing of the Chief Imam of Maru Jumma’a Mosque, Alkali Salihu Suleiman 79, along with his three children — after the bandits received N11m of the N20m ransom they demanded,” the organisation said in a statement.


“The Chief Imam and his three children were abducted by gunmen in during Ramadan fasting in March. While in custody of the bandits they were subjected to almost daily rounds of torture and other ill-treatement. Apart from beatings, they were also made to go long hours without food or water,” the statement added.

Amnesty also criticised the Nigerian authorities for their inability to protect lives and property while armed groups continue their atrocities, which include abductions, killings, and sexual violence.

“The Nigerian authorities consistently failed to protect lives and property, while the killers continue to carry out horrific atrocities that include slaughtering people, abduction, amputation, rape of women and girls and razing of entire villages,” Amnesty said.


The rights group highlighted the ongoing nature of attacks on rural communities in northern Nigeria, accusing security forces of failing to respond effectively.

"Terrifying attacks on rural communities in the north of Nigeria have been going on for years. The current failure of security forces to take sufficient steps to protect villagers from these predictable attacks is utterly shameful and unacceptable,” Amnesty added.

Amnesty also stated that the continuing violence across states such as Zamfara shows that the government has failed to take decisive action against armed groups.


"Almost daily attacks across Zamfara and other states clearly show that President Bola Tinubu and his government have no effective plan for ending years of atrocities by armed groups and gunmen that are increasingly having free reigns of impunity across many parts of Nigeria,” the organisation concluded.

“President Bola Tinubu promised to tackle insecurity nationwide, but so far, security of lives seems to be low on the list of his government’s priorities.”

Alex Otti, the governor of Abia state, has denied claims linking him to a planned defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Reports had alleged that Otti recently met with Hope Uzodimma, the Imo governor, to discuss a potential move to the ruling party. The claims surfaced after Thursday’s national economic council (NEC) meeting at the presidential villa.

In a statement on Saturday, Ferdinand Ekeoma, special adviser to Otti on media and publicity, described the reports as “false, baseless and unfounded”. The governor’s spokesperson said the alleged meeting was misrepresented and had no political undertone.

“After the National Economic Council meeting on Thursday, April 24, Governor Otti and a few of his colleagues joined Governor Uzodinma to attend the birthday celebration of his twin daughters, an event that had nothing to do with politics,” he said.

Ekeoma said Otti’s “rising profile and performance” as Abia governor may be fuelling speculation and political projections from various quarters. He said decisions with long-term consequences would only be taken in consultation with the people of Abia and the governor’s close allies.

According to him, Otti remains focused on governance and believes it is premature to allow 2027 politics to “distract from the mandate of service to Abians”.

“We wish to emphatically state that Governor Otti remains a member of the Labour Party and is presently not planning or discussing with anyone to defect to the APC or any other party,” [/b]he added.

[b]In recent weeks, major opposition parties have lost several members to the ruling APC, with more governors and key party members reportedly planning to defect.