₦airaland Forum

Nigerian Senator, Victor Umeh Asks Yakubu Gowon To Write Own Book, Apologise To Igbo Over 1967 Civil War

Nigerian Senator, Victor Umeh has called on former Military Head of State, Gen Yakubu Gowon (retd.), to apologise to the Igbo people and document his role in Nigeria’s civil war.

Umeh, who represents Anambra Central Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly, made this demand in an interview with Arise News on Wednesday.

He stated that Gowon must provide a detailed account of the war, especially in light of recent revelations by former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida.

Babangida had reaffirmed that the 1966 coup was not an Igbo-led coup but a “revolutionary movement” by young officers.

“I think Gowon owes Nigerians a duty to write his own account of that war and the things that led to the war and the way the war was carried out and the way the war ended. Because when the war ended, he promised the Nigerian people reconciliation, restitution, and rehabilitation, particularly to the Igbo side of the nation. That he did not implement until he was overthrown in 1975,” Umeh said.

The Senator criticised Gowon for avoiding discussions on his role, urging him to take responsibility. “So, he himself should stop playing the ostrich. Just like Babangida came out as an elder statesman at 80 now, he decided to speak the truth, including on matters of June 12. People should not retain certain things until death. Gowon was a principal person in the whole episode.

He was one that destroyed the regional arrangement in Nigeria and created the 12-state structure from which we had all these things.”

Umeh also insisted that Gowon must apologise for the war’s impact on the Igbo people.

“He needs to come out and put his statements clearly, and because of the way he handled the war and the way he treated the Igbos, including the massacre of the Igbo people, he owes the Igbo people an apology.”

“It was quite relieving that former president Babangida’s book has one more time confirmed what we have always known to be the State of Affairs with that coup.”

Umeh further stressed the need for national reconciliation. “The Igbos of Nigeria have been held in so much contempt with successive administrations in Nigeria, starting from Gowon, and we were put on a very dark spot in the affairs of this country that we organised a coup that killed some important people in Nigeria. But truthfully and reassuringly, this book has exposed that the Igbos themselves crushed the coup.”

Speaking on Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s demand for N10trillion in compensation, Umeh said what matters most is equal treatment.

“Now that it is clear that Igbos did not organise any coup to kill anybody for selfish reasons, it follows that all the things Igbos have been denied in Nigeria by the successive government, starting from Gowon, down to the present day even, that Igbos should be seen as Nigerians with the same rights and privileges that other Nigerians should enjoy in the affairs of government.”

He concluded by urging the government to change its attitude toward the Igbo people.

“A change in attitude of the present government towards reintegrating the Igbos fully into the Nigerian project, and casting away that suspicion that Igbos organised the coup, that made them to be removed from the scheme of things in Nigeria. If we put a stop to it, it begins the healing process.”

Ahali:
Many Wounds has been reopened

mii4u:
I dey tell u

TouchNfollow:
https://saharareporters.com/2025/02/26/nigerian-senator-victor-umeh-asks-yakubu-gowon-write-own-book-apologise-igbo-over-1967#google_vignette

theophorus:
Na to Blame everyone except una self and na this hypocritical things still dey affect una.

If una like make una gaslight others till tomorrow, still the Truth will never change.

70-80% of Coup plotter = Ibos
Aguiyi Ironsi took over =Ibo
Unification decree = Ibos
Who made jest of North = Ibos
Whose Nationalist were not killed during the coup = Ibos.
Which Region took all the spoils of the Coup = Ibos.

On the Civil War.
Was there an Aburi accord?
Who looted the CBN buildings in the SE and Western Region?
Where/when did the defeat of the Biafra soldiers started? At Ore When they choose to march to take over Lagos.
Nsogbu-Nsogbu things without reasoning.

Una don start again.

dynicks:
Honestly,Gowon really must be heavy at heart right now.... I'm sure he'd be regretting while he never released a book before IBB that's if ever he had the intentions to...Now it's now as if he's got alot hiding inside and under pressure as all eyes are on him...

No one should should force or pressure Gowon into releasing a book as it's simply his choice if he wishes to or not...But one thing is certain...I'm sure IBB today, feels much more free in conscience than he had always been all these years than Gowon.........IN ALL, IT'S BEST YOU EASE OR LAY DOWN WHATEVER BURDEN UV GOT AT HEART AND BE AT PEACE WITH YOURSELF AND YOUR CREATOR!!...

theophorus:
Na to Blame everyone except una self and na this hypocritical things still dey affect una.

If una like make una gaslight others till tomorrow, still the Truth will never change.

70-80% of Coup plotter = Ibos
Aguiyi Ironsi took over =Ibo
Unification decree = Ibos
Who made jest of North = Ibos
Whose Nationalist were not killed during the coup = Ibos.
Which Region took all the spoils of the Coup = Ibos.

On the Civil War.
Was there an Aburi accord?
Who looted the CBN buildings in the SE and Western Region?
Where/when did the defeat of the Biafra soldiers started? At Ore When they choose to march to take over Lagos.
Nsogbu-Nsogbu things without reasoning.

Una don start again.

Forkthiefnubu:
You wish the lies stay and ibos in perpetual servitude to u abokis and afonjas

mii4u:
How can I wish for such? I'm ibo

aswani:
Hopefully someone too will apologise officially for the atrocities commited by the Biafran Army in Benin.

I hear some people are demanding compensation too, I look forward to Ivb'edo being compensated by those same people for being illegally occupied and the extra judicial killings carried out by the. Biafran Army during that time.

dynicks:
Honestly,Gowon really must be heavy at heart right now.... I'm sure he'd be regretting while he never released a book before IBB that's if ever he had the intentions to...Now it's now as if he's got alot hiding inside and under pressure as all eyes are on him...

No one should should force or pressure Gowon into releasing a book as it's simply his choice if he wishes to or not...But one thing is certain...I'm sure IBB today, feels much more free in conscience than he had always been all these years than Gowon.........IN ALL, IT'S BEST YOU EASE OR LAY DOWN WHATEVER BURDEN UV GOT AT HEART AND BE AT PEACE WITH YOURSELF AND YOUR CREATOR!!...

theophorus:
Na to Blame everyone except una self and na this hypocritical things still dey affect una.

If una like make una gaslight others till tomorrow, still the Truth will never change.

70-80% of Coup plotter = Ibos
Aguiyi Ironsi took over =Ibo
Unification decree = Ibos
Who made jest of North = Ibos
Whose Nationalist were not killed during the coup = Ibos.
Which Region took all the spoils of the Coup = Ibos.

On the Civil War.
Was there an Aburi accord?
Who looted the CBN buildings in the SE and Western Region?
Where/when did the defeat of the Biafra soldiers started? At Ore When they choose to march to take over Lagos.
Nsogbu-Nsogbu things without reasoning.

Una don start again.

Coldspice:
The greatest damage the war did to Igbos is the inferiority complex it instilled in them. They go about with a victim complex, begging for acceptance.