Senator Victor Umeh, OFR, the distinguished Senator representing Anambra Central, has publicly called on former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon to unreservedly apologise to the Igbo people for his role in the Nigerian Civil War.
Reacting to comments made by General Gowon in a recent interview, Senator Umeh expressed deep disappointment and described the former leader’s remarks as a distortion of historical truth.
He stated that Gowon’s refusal to implement the Aburi Accord, which was reached with the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, directly triggered the devastating civil war that claimed millions of lives, most of whom were Igbos.
“General Gowon continues to insist that the war was not against the Igbos, yet Igbo soldiers were specifically targeted, Igbo-owned businesses were destroyed, and the people of the South East were subjected to intense suffering and deliberate marginalisation during and after the war,” Senator Umeh said.
He added that such narratives, which attempted to whitewash the past, only deepened wounds rather than heal them.
“If we truly want Nigeria to move forward and achieve genuine reconciliation, we must first acknowledge the truth. Gowon must stop telling white lies and instead own up to his role in the conflict by apologising to Ndigbo and the entire nation,” he said.
Umeh, who enjoyed a close personal relationship with the late Ojukwu, emphasised that he had access to firsthand accounts of events leading up to and during the civil war.
This, he said, made it impossible for him to remain silent when history was being distorted.
According to Umeh, a sincere apology from Gowon would not only be a mark of statesmanship but would also help set the stage for national healing and unity.
