Biafra: I have no regrets –Gowon

[DT]

Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, says he has no regrets over the roles he played during the 13 months Civil War.  Gowon, who spoke to newsmen in Minna after a courtesy call on Governor Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, also dismissed allegations that the Federal Government under him maltreated the Igbos, saying that those who accused him of crime against the Igbos were talking out of ignorance.  He was in Mina for a two-day prayer session organized by Nigeria Prays and was apparently reacting to recent revelations by Professor Chinua Achebe in his new book titled " There was a country: A Personal History of Biafra,"  which has stirred controversy.

He said Achebe must have been outside the country during the war and probably did not know what happened at the period. He also defended his administration over alleged genocide.

Gowon blamed the secessionist leaders for causing the massive deaths recorded during the war, saying  his government had no war policy to starve anyone to death.

"In fact, if there was no secession by the South Eastern part of the country, there would have been no civil war because right from the beginning of the crises the war would have been averted if not for the secession. It was something I believed we could have stopped," Gowon said.

He also recalled that during the war, a ship named "Josina," allegedly owned by the secessionist group, which they claimed was carrying agricultural implements, was captured by the federal troop and it was subjected to a thorough search  and  that it turned out to  be a collection of arms and ammunition.

He said he and the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo have no regret whatsoever for playing the roles they played in the war.

In his remarks, Aliyu said the former head of state was an inspiration to many Nigerians because of the way he handles his life in and out of office.



Daily Trust

[Folami David]

We shouldn't dwell on the past anymore, all we need t think of now is the future of this country