Kenneth Okonkwo, a lawyer and politician, speaks on the current interview granted by a former Head of State, Common Yakubu Gowon, on the Nigerian/Biafran warfare and a few current developments within the polity. Excerpts
What are your ideas on the feedback made by Common Yakubu Gowon that the Nigerian Civil Warfare was fought to maintain the nation collectively, and that it was not likely about defeat of any a part of the nation.
To start with, we should perceive that warfare in itself is a show of anarchy. Whenever you discuss warfare, it’s lawlessness at its peak. So, once you say you might be combating warfare to maintain Nigeria one; no, you fought the warfare as a manifestation of your incompetence within the administration of the disaster.
Let me clarify what I imply. Earlier than independence, the colonial power- Britain; brainwashed Nigerian folks to keep up their ethnic cleavages, they usually wanted to make Nigerians dwell in that disunity, in order that they may proceed their colonization in opposition to Nigeria.
So, they made North, as an illustration, to consider that being educationally deprived, they need to not rush into independence due to the chance that they are going to be dominated by the extra superior Southern Nigeria, and the North purchased into that, and that was why we have been delayed from 1954 to 1960. However the precise factor is that Britain simply wished extra time to dominate Nigeria.
So, after independence, that mindset that the South is more likely to dominate them remained, and the North was at all times at each slightest likelihood, reminding the South that we didn’t intend to be one nation with you as a result of we’re suspecting your domination.
However the 1966 navy coup, which had nothing to do with ethnicity despite the fact that folks, who organised it, have been predominantly from one ethnic group, bolstered the idea by the North that these folks wish to dominate us. Then, they carried out a revenge coup in July 1966, which was meant really to separate from Nigeria, to not maintain Nigeria one.
However the Britain additionally reminded them that the sources are within the East; ‘in the event you go away Nigeria, we’re going to help the East. So that you higher run now that you’ve got acquired energy to keep up Nigeria as one.’ And that made them to have a rethink. By that point, plenty of Igbos, as an illustration, had been killed in the course of the pogrom.
So, there was an entrenched suspicion between the ethnic teams, and this led them to go to Aburi, Ghana for a convention, they usually reached an settlement. It was nonetheless Gowon who got here again and reneged on the settlement, which inevitably led to the bitter warfare.
After the warfare, Gowon declared once more “No Victor, no vanquished” and promised to “Reconcile, Rehabilitate and Reconstruct” the South East, which he failed once more to do. So, all of the accessible alternatives for him to make Nigeria one and consolidate that unity he was not capable of do.
However allow us to make one level clear that after some time, when he himself was thrown away by a few of these his colleagues, that was when perhaps he acknowledged that what occurred in 1966 was a navy coup and never any ethnic coup, as a result of he himself was thrown away by the identical navy folks.
I ponder which terminology we’ll use to explain those who threw him away. However one factor is evident, after that, it appears to be like as if he went into theology, had a rebirth, and he got here again and genuinely went all through SouthEast apologizing and asking for forgiveness for his function within the civil w0ar.
And we all know that although the South-East has been marginalized and sick -treated in that warfare which was not brought on by them. We all know that Gowon has tried to make sure kinds of penance. We should always forgive one another, as a result of hostilities needn’t final without end.
A part of the incompetence of those leaders is having no insurance policies to make use of to persuade the folks, in order that they resort to such primordial sentiments… however they’re fading away, whilst these incompetent and corrupt leaders are fading away out
Why is Mr. Peter Obi being virtually compelled to clarify his congratulatory message to Common Gowon as a result of the likes of Simon Ekpa and several other others are saying he congratulated Gowon as a result of he’s determined to grow to be president?
You have to be ready to ask Obi once you see him. I’ve at all times mentioned that it’s good for a frontrunner to at all times suppose earlier than he talks. Earlier than you make a press release, it should be a press release you’ve got thought by way of, and you must have the ability to stand by it.
You shouldn’t be a good climate type of chief that after they push you this facet, you’ll clarify; after they push you to the opposite facet, you’ll clarify. It is best to have the ability to articulate your view at any level and stand by it. Nonetheless, like I mentioned, no human being is infallible.
He doesn’t want to clarify if he’s positive of what he’s saying and he believes in it. But when he wanted to clarify and he defined, then you must maintain him answerable for his personal actions and for his personal phrases.
I consider in unity of Nigeria, I consider Common Gowon made an entire lot of errors as a result of he himself prevaricated on plenty of issues that might have prevented the warfare, even after we are conscious by his personal initiation. So, once you say Obi made a press release, after which he’s clarifying, there may be nothing mistaken in clarification.
Nonetheless, there’s a have to at all times be delicate after which be certain of the assertion you wish to make, so that you just don’t start to pander on all sides. I’ve at all times mentioned -it is sweet to face on one facet. I don’t have something in opposition to anyone saying something.
It’s a free phrase however you must have the ability to stand by your phrase. I don’t suppose it has something to do with the unity of Nigeria, as a result of what Nigerians are searching for now, like I mentioned, is competent leaders. So, if he expressed his opinion and withdraws it or modifies it, that’s his proper to do, and he’s entitled to it.
Some folks consider that politicians normally use divide and rule tactic, ethnicity and faith to divide Nigerians in an effort to win elections. How can Nigerians as a folks rise above this quite common gimmick?
Let me initially agree with you that a part of the incompetence of those leaders is having no insurance policies to make use of to persuade the folks, in order that they resort to such primordial sentiments. That’s the reason I’m saying that it’s now not a part of our downside. Why am I saying that?
The current president threw up all of the ethnic playing cards. Nonetheless, after doing all this stuff, he misplaced his state. After saying Muslim-Muslim ticket, he didn’t even impress anyone. He nonetheless had the least votes as in relation to the opposition.
So, they exploit that tendency, however Nigerians have outgrown that, they win by rigging, they win by electoral violence, manipulation and corruption. They don’t win anymore by ethnic sentiment and spiritual fanaticism. The issue we’ve now’s corruption, not having the ability to organise free and honest elections and abuse of public energy for personal acquire. It’s now not ethnic.
You may’t go to the North and inform northerners that you’re a Muslim and they need to vote for you as a result of you’re a Muslim given what they’re struggling now below a Muslim- Muslim ticket. You may’t go to anyone within the South-West and say vote for me as a result of I’m from the SouthWest.
I agree with you that a few of these leaders, as a result of they don’t have something, they don’t have any coverage to point out to the folks, they attempt to exploit such primordial sentiments, however they’re fading away, whilst these incompetent and corrupt leaders are fading away out.
Nigerians should rise within the curiosity of a united Nigeria, for the sake of the black man, for the sake of Africa, and for the sake of all of us, understanding that our variety is our power, understanding that united we stand, understanding that we are going to obtain economic system of scale if we’re collectively.
If this nation is split into six, what it means is that every of these six should have their very own military, air pressure, navy, police, which means it can value us six occasions to manipulate Nigeria what’s costing us now.
Do you suppose the British colonialists weren’t sensible after they amalgamated the South and the North? They did that in order that they’ll obtain lesser value of governance; it has nothing to do with making an attempt to make us to dwell collectively however we should always benefit from that.
We should always benefit from the economic system of scale. Once we dwell collectively below the rule of legislation, there is no such thing as a problem we is not going to overcome. We’re constructing a extra progressive and ideal union as we go on. It’s a course of; it isn’t an incident.
So, no matter challenges we’ve, each Nigerian ought to know that’s surmountable, and shouldn’t at all times be enthusiastic about dividing Nigeria and separating Nigerians. We’re a united nation, indissoluble and indissolvable below God, and we should always transfer on in that capability.
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