Tension Rises As Ohanaeze Blasts Gowon’s Civil War Claims

The apex Igbo socio-cultural body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has sharply criticised former Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd.), over his recent assertion that the Nigerian Civil War was not aimed at the Igbo people but was rather a response to secessionist actions.

Ohanaeze condemned Gowon’s remarks as “a gross misrepresentation of history” and “a blatant distortion of facts,” describing them as a deep insult to the memory and dignity of the Igbo people.

In a statement issued on Sunday by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, a factional Deputy President-General, Ohanaeze accused the former leader of downplaying the targeted killings and systematic persecution of Igbos, especially during the 1966 pogroms in Northern Nigeria — events they argue were a major catalyst for the civil war.

The group also alleged that General Gowon, now 91, was influenced by “colonial powers and the Fulani oligarchy,” whose interests shaped decisions that left the Igbo exposed and marginalised during his rule.

Ohanaeze expressed concern over what it sees as ongoing efforts to revise the narrative of the Nigerian Civil War — particularly attempts to minimise the suffering endured by the Igbo.

Referring to Gowon’s claims that the war stemmed solely from secessionist provocations in 1966, the group countered:

“The dangerous narrative Gowon is promoting must be corrected. History will not be kind to him if he fails to use this opportunity to drop outdated military rhetoric and tell the full truth about what happened — including why the Aburi Accord, which could have prevented the war, was abandoned.”

Ohanaeze insists that the war’s prosecution was not simply a response to secession but also a strategic move driven by British economic interests in Biafra’s oil-rich lands and revenge-seeking elements within the northern establishment.

According to the group, Gowon’s long life has divine significance:

1. To confront his conscience and publicly seek God’s forgiveness for his role in the war.

2. To lead a process of truth-telling, reconciliation, and healing for the Igbo people and the wider Nigerian society.

They criticised his recent comments as an attempt at image laundering, arguing that instead of acknowledging the pain of over three million Igbo civilians killed during the conflict, he has chosen to reinforce a false narrative.

“General Gowon’s pride and his long silence have haunted him for over 50 years,” the statement said. “Now is the time to face his conscience and end the cycle of denial.”

Ohanaeze concluded by urging Gowon to speak the truth while he still has the chance, calling on his inner circle to help him unburden himself and take meaningful steps toward national atonement, especially for atrocities like the Asaba massacre.
They noted that the consequences of the war still echo today, even in parts of the Middle Belt, where violence linked to Fulani militias persists.