Lawyer Accuses Gowon of Distorting Civil War History

Aloi Ejimakor, the lawyer representing Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has accused former Nigerian Head of State Yakubu Gowon of distorting historical facts in his memoir concerning the Nigerian Civil War. In a statement shared on Thursday, Ejimakor criticized Gowon's account, which he claims blames Biafran leader Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu for the failure of peace negotiations.

Ejimakor argued that Gowon's memoir reignites debates surrounding the civil conflict and presents a false narrative. He pointed out that Gowon's government failed to implement the Aburi Accord reached in Ghana in January 1967, which was seen as a crucial opportunity to prevent the civil war following the anti-Igbo killings in 1966.

Ejimakor also condemned post-war policies of the federal government, including the flat payout to former Biafran bank depositors, which he deemed controversial and alienating to the Igbo population. He concluded that Gowon's memoir appears to defend his administration while placing the blame for the war's failures solely on Ojukwu.