From Marcel Duru, Owerri
Retired School Principal in Imo State Dr. Mrs. Nma Olebara said that blaming Ojukwu alone oversimplifies a complex history, and that kind of framing can reopen old wounds instead of helping reconciliation. She’s spoke on Omalicha Owerri, Imo State about needing honest, balanced education on Nigeria’s history so young people can be employable and self-reliant, not divided by one-sided narratives. Olebara said that Gowon blaming Ojukwu, sent bad signal that Tribal hatred is genetically coded in his system a clear manifestation of hatred he has on the Igbo as a tribe. She further said that he failed to remember the anti-Igbo pogroms in the North in 1966 that made Ojukwu and many Igbo to feel unsafe In Nigeria. She condemned the Federal Government delayed implementation of Aburi Accord terms and “no victor no vanquish” was a political statement after the war, but the post-war threats of the East did not match it. “When Gowon blames Ojukwu alone, it clashes with the lived memory and oral history in the South East. In his contribution Dr. Sam Okonta who described Gowon’s book as Satanic Thesis therefore said the 1966 Aburi – Accord which he refuse to implement, is still bedeviling millions of Nigerians till today. This particular mistake led to Loss of lives of Nigeria, Biafra and other nations of Nigeria still today. This mistake Made by Gowon at the age of 29, since then killing, now close to 90 killing and destruction of life and property till today.
Recalling the death of Nigerians and the property lost from 1967-1970 and from 1970 till now you will see that the quantum of lives lost is Inestimable,yet the recalcitrant Culprit called Gowon is yet to decriminalize him self, Instead of being remorseful he tried to rationalize idiocy and ignorance. At the age of 90, Gowon can’t differentiate between Unitary Government and Freedom of the people. Aburi Communiqué-Key points:
*Security and Law & Order, The Supreme Military Council agreed that the regional Governments would be responsible for Law and order within their regions.The Federal Government would be responsible for external defence and overall coordination
*Appointment of Officer. Appointments to Posts in the Armed Forces, Police, and other Federal Services would be made by the Supreme Military Council after consultation with the regions. No officer should be posted to his region of origin without his consent.
*Revenue Allocation- The principle of Derivation would be applied more fully, Regions would retain a larger share of revenue generated within them.
*Military Reorganization- The army would be reorganized on a regional basis. Each region would control the troops stationed in its territory.
*Constitutional Review- A meeting of Constitutional Advisers would be convened to work out the details of a new Constitutional arrangement based on the decisions reached at Aburi.
*Meeting of the SMC- The Supreme Military Council would meet regularly to review the situation ensure implementation. “If you go through this Aburi Communique you will understand that Gen. Gowon was a general who always want to spill blood for no just cause. He claimed that he was fighting to keep Nigeria one but in the 1966 Counter Coup he ordered the killing of over 50,000 Officers from Igbo extraction and by extension he ordered the killing of over half a million of Igbo running down home as a result of 1966 pogrom in the North. He said that when the war brook out Gowon heartlessly hired Egyptian pilots who bombed Schools, Markets, Hospitals to the extent bombing Uzoakoli leprosy Settlement, Hotels, Churches and other Public Institution in South East, killing over two million and that was his definition of keeping Nigeria one. In the same corner he stated that Gen Gowon in keeping Nigeria one, after his overthrew in 1975, planned Counter Coup that killed Gen. Murtala Mohammed using Lt.Col Dimka, Brigadier ID Bissala amongst others, an action that claimed the lives of over 500 Officers mainly from the Middle Belt. According to him as if that was not enough, now Gowon blaming Ojukwu as the cause of the Biafra and Nigeria war that started in 1967 and ended in 1970 was a ploy indirectly compelling the present government of Bola Amed Tinubu to declare war on Igbo again for its continued agitation for the Revalidation of the Sovereign State of Biafra.
