Gowon Revealed Brutal Truth About Nigeria/Biafra War That Shock Everyone

Former Nigerian military leader General Yakubu Gowon has reflected on the causes of the Nigerian civil war, saying that the conflict could have been avoided but for the secessionist ambitions of the South-East.

Gowon, who ruled Nigeria during the 1967-1970 war, noted that the South-East’s desire to break away from the federation made the war inevitable.
In an interview with Daily Trust, Gowon said: “It became apparent that a part of the country, the South-East, wanted to secede.

This created the conditions that ultimately led to the outbreak of war.
There would not have been a civil war without the secessionist movement, he stressed.

“Gowon, who served as Nigeria’s head of state from 1 August 1966 to 29 July 1975, also urged the South-East to embrace national unity.

He noted that the dissolution of Biafra was the result of Nigerians’ collective desire for rehabilitation and peace.
Reflecting on his role during the war, Gowon likened himself to US President Abraham Lincoln, who led the US through the civil war.

“I sometimes tell myself that I don’t mind being called the Nigerian Abraham Lincoln because we were in a similar situation and we were able to achieve the same outcome, which is national unity,” Gowon said.

He also recalled a conversation he had with a British journalist who had questioned the end of the conflict and the possibility of the guerrilla war continuing.
Gowon expressed relief and said, “Thank God there was no guerrilla war.

“His call for continued national integration remains relevant given the country’s ongoing efforts to foster cohesion among its diverse regions.