Latest person to react to Chinua Achebe's new book is the former head of state himself Gen. Yakubu Gowon.
Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, has described
Prof. Chinua Achebe’s Nigerian Civil War memoir in his latest book, There was a
Country, as “a propaganda”. Achebe in the book, accused the Federal Government
under Gowon and the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who was then the Minister of
Finance, of using hunger as a weapon of war against the Republic of Biafra.
But Gowon, who spoke to punch on the telephone on
Tuesday, said though many books had been written about the civil war, none had
been as controversial as that of Achebe.
He said the book was “written to whip up unnecessary
sentiments”.
He said when he releases his biography many will know
what happened during the war.
Gowon said, “Many books have been written about the civil
war and unfortunately none had been as controversial as that of Achebe, which
accused me and Chief Awolowo of genocide against the Igbo. Nothing can be
further from the truth, because every decision we took was for the interest of
a united Nigeria.
“It (Achebe’s book) is nothing more than a propaganda and
many people have failed to see it that way, and that is why most of the
reactions have been varied and vitriolic.
“I am not aware of any Igboman that had an account with
the then Barclays Bank that was seized, because at the end of the war many of
them got their money back. And it was because of our resolve to ensure that
there was no victor no vanquished. We wanted to put the experience of the civil
war behind us. We put in place a lot of measure to ensure that everybody was
reintegrated into a united Nigeria.
“So it is very unfortunate for Achebe to accuse me and
Awolowo of starving the Igbo to death.”
The Chairman of Nigeria Prays added the majority of of
the principal actors at the end of the war did not appear as if they were
starved.
He said he stood by every decision he took during the
civil war and ready to defend his actions anywhere.
The former Chief of Army Staff denied that he prevented
foreign aid from reaching the Igbo during the war. Gowon added, “Most of those
who accused us of genocide were looking well fed at the end of the war. During
the war we opened road and air corridors to allow food, medicine and other aids
to the people. Nobody can do such a thing to his people because I was
optimistic that the war would end one day and we shall come together under a
united country.
“So that was why we were very careful about every
decision we took during the civil war
The 78-year-old said by the time he publishes his own
account of the war, most of those insinuations would be laid to rest.
“I have been sufficiently challenged and the whole truth
will be revealed one day,” he said
Punch
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