IGBOZURUOKE FORUM

Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) says former military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, is a “genocidist.”
The pro-Biafra mass movement led by the detained Nnadi Kanu, says so just as the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, charged Gowon to seek forgiveness and apologise to Ndigbo over his latest remarks on the Nigerian Civil War.
Factional Secretary-General of the Igbo group, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, described Gowon’s remarks as inflammatory, and urged him to move for reconciliation.
According to Isiguzoro, “Gowon’s latest remarks following his visit to President Bola Tinubu, has reopened old wounds and inflicted anguish upon the Igbo community, both at home and in the diaspora.
“Gowon’s choice of words and narrative regarding the Biafra war has been insensitive and deeply hurtful to the collective psyche of the Igbo people.”
Gowon, who ruled Nigeria between 1966 and 1975, recalled how he was criticized that he could not prosecute the civil war because he was slow.
Condemning the remark, the factional secretary-general challenged Gowon to reflect on his actions and the enduring consequences of the Biafra civil war.
Isiguzoro said in a statement, “in response to the incessant and inflammatory comments made by the former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, regarding the experiences of the Biafra war, Ohanaeze Ndigbo issues a resolute and imperative call for reconciliation and healing to be initiated by Gowon himself.
“It is with unwavering conviction that we assert that the time has come for Gowon to take responsibility for his role in the tragic events of the past. His repetitive glorification of the suppression of the Biafran struggle does a disservice to national unity and healing.
“We remind General Gowon that his continued existence, especially amidst the over 3 million Igbo lives lost during the war, is a divine opportunity for him to seek redemption and offer genuine apologies for the pain and suffering inflicted upon the Igbo people.
“It is incumbent upon Gowon to acknowledge the atrocities, confess to any misdeeds, and sincerely apologize to the Igbo community for the role he played in the conflict.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo emphasizes that only through sincere reconciliation, rooted in genuine remorse and penitence, can lasting peace and harmonious coexistence be achieved in our nation.
“The endurance of the Igbo people, their forgiveness, and their commitment to national development are undeniable, yet the scars of the past persist as long as Gowon chooses to reopen old wounds with his insensitive comments.
“It is crucial for General Gowon to rise above personal pride and demonstrate true leadership by making amends for the sins of the past.
“As Igbos continues to contribute positively to the development of Nigeria and support the government of President Tinubu, it is incumbent upon Gowon to reciprocate by fostering an environment of healing and reconciliation through his actions and words.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo implores General Yakubu Gowon to seize this rare opportunity to seek forgiveness, offer sincere apologies, and desist from further inflaming the painful memories of the Biafra war.
“It is time for Gowon to exhibit humility, righteousness, and empathy towards the victims of the war, thereby paving the way for genuine reconciliation and lasting peace in our beloved nation.”
However, IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, is accusing Gowon of leading the second bloodiest genocide after the Israeli Holocaust against Ndigbo.
Powerful was also reacting to Gowon’s latest comment on the Biafra civil war.
After a meeting with Tinubu, Gowon disclosed how he was accused of being unable to prosecute the Biafra war because he was too slow.
Reacting, Powerful declared that the current generation of Ndigbo will actualise Biafra independence.
In a statement, the IPOB chief said the attention of the pro-Biafra group “has been drawn to the horrible but true confession of starting the genocidal war against Biafra by Gowon.
“The genocidist Yakubu Gowon led the second bloodiest genocide after the Israeli Holocaust against Biafrans between 1967 and 1970.
“Recently, during a solidarity visit to President Tinubu, the genocidist, Yakubu Gowon, openly confessed to starting the genocidal war that they call a civil war against Ndigbo without shame.
“He equally confirmed that he was criticized for starting that war, yet he went ahead to commit the deadly genocide against the Biafra Nation.
“As other genocidists in Nigeria, Gowon is gallivanting and glorifying himself for massacring millions of Biafran men, women, and children. His home state is under the occupation of terrorists and bandits today, but that is not his concern. 
“The genocide he masterminded against Biafra’s has visited his people. Fulani bandits and terrorists have taken over and renamed some of the villages in the Tiv nation while Gowon is watching helplessly like the slave that he is. God has preserved Gowon to witness the same genocide he perpetrated against Biafrans.
“Fortunately, no inch of Biafran land was taken over by the Nigerian State during the bloody civil war. But Yakubu Gowon and his people have already lost some areas of their own land to Fulani conquerors and jihadists. 
“And if care is not taken, the entire Middle Belt will be conquered by the Sokoto Fulani Caliphate. We don’t wish that happens because of the innocent people of the Middle Belt even though we despise the unrepentant Genocidist Gowon and his fellow Nigerianists’ actions against Biafrans.
“We commend our eternal leader, Chief Dim, Odumegwu Ojukwu whether dead or alive, and other Biafra heroes and heroines for resisting the bloody genocide against Biafra are led by the genocidist, Gowon. 
“By the special grace of Eze Chukwu Okike Abiama, this generation of Biafrans will finish the struggle and restore Biafra Independence. There is nothing people like war criminal Gen. Yakubu Gowon and company can do about it.”

The Southernexaminer