General Yakubu Gowon, who served as Nigeria’s head of state during the Nigeria-Biafra war, explained that his duty as head of state was essentially to ensure that the countries did not go their separate ways.
Gowon said this in an interview published by the Daily Trust to mark his 90th birthday, noting that during the civil war, his government made every effort to prevent the situation from deteriorating into secession. “I had a duty to ensure that there was no division of the country,” he said.
“We had to fight for two and a half years and made sure that there was no interference from outside. There was no question of allowing any state or power to be involved in the crisis of our country. Remember. I think there was a United Nations force in Congo, made up of Nigerian troops and soldiers from other parts of Africa, to deal with this problem.”
Nigeria fought separatist Biafran forces in eastern Nigeria from 1967 to 1970. However, the war ended with a mutual agreement to reconcile, rehabilitate, and reintegrate the region into the country’s mainstream economic and political strata.
According to Gowon, “After the war, the instructions I gave to the combat troops were, “Since you fought with your brothers and sisters, I want you to become warriors of peace.” Do whatever you can to help them get back to their homes and places. And please give them any help you can. ”Despite what happened, many brave Igbo people living in the north returned to Kaduna, Kano, Jos etc. and reclaimed their properties that some of their friends had kept for them. Ta. He said that after the war, the military helped transport people from the southeast to different parts of the country.
The former head of state further said that all Nigerians were given the opportunity to return to their desired places after the war, noting that there were several retirees to ensure genuine reconciliation.
“I took Mr. Ukpabi Ashika, a brilliant nationalist, as my administrator and gave him all the help he needed. For example, I helped him get schools, and I also helped him with the medical aspects. There was. A lot was done to at least allow people to go back to different parts of the country and start reconciliation and integration,” he said.
He urged the people of south-eastern Nigeria to learn that the war is long over and that they are part of the Nigerian nation.
“My message to the people of the South East is that the civil war is over and the Republic of Biafra no longer exists because the people have accepted reintegration as Nigerians. Do you want me to say it should continue? No, don’t ask me that question,” he said.
