The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State has urged former Military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, to apologise to Ndi Igbo over the role he played during the Nigerian civil war.
The Nigerian Civil War was a three-year bloody conflict fought during the regime of Gen. Gowon between the Nigerian government and secessionist Biafra. The war, which began on May 30, 1967, ended on January 15, 1970, with a death toll numbering over one million people.
Gowon, alongside Governor-elect Alex Otti, would lead a prayer session in the State on Sunday. The prayer session is scheduled to be held at Master’s Vessel Church in the Umuahia area of Abia State.
However, the acting Publicity Secretary of the party in the State, Mr. Abraham Amah, has expressed concern over the choice of Gowon as a Special guest.
Amah, who said he is not against praying for the State, however, emphasised that Gowon’s name unsettles many people in the Southeast due to his role in the civil war.
He said: “The attention of the Abia PDP has been drawn to a news item in circulation on social media indicating that Nigeria’s former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, would on Sunday, April 23, 2023, lead a prayer session in one Master’s Vessel Church Umuahia, Abia State, under the auspices of his pet project, Nigeria Prays, to herald a new Abia. Whatever ‘a new Abia’ means.
“The name Yakubu Gowon is unsettling to many people in the South East given the ignoble roles he played during the Biafran Civil War for which he is yet to render any public apology.”
Amah said the choice of Gowon as a special guest in a State that is the home town of slain General Aguiyi Ironsi is insensitive.
Wondering why no other man of God was invited for the prayer session, the PDP noted that Abia State has produced a Catholic Bishop and other top clergymen.
The party’s State chapter regretted that Gowon has not publicly admitted his mistakes in the civil war.
“The only way the prayer session would make meaning to the millions of South easterners, dead and alive, is for Gowon to use the opportunity of the prayer session and convert it to a moment of truth, and apologise to the people for his role in the atrocious war that led to the untimely death of millions of our very resourceful people.”