“A lot of injustice has been done to the Igbo” – Gowon

Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Rtd) says Igbo people have suffered a lot of injustices in Nigeria which must be addressed.

He lamented that the nation has not fully explored the benefits of the resilience, intelligence, creativity and hard work of Ndigbo for the socio-economic development of Nigeria.

Gowon spoke Thursday at the debate for National Unity with the theme: “Federal Character, Restructuring and Rotation of Presidential Power in Nigeria.”

The event was organised by the Igbo Leadership Development Foundation (ILDF).

Recall that Gowon was Nigeria’s leader during the ill-fated Civil War that killed at least 2 million, mostly Igbo people.

He called for a constitutional debate on restructuring to correct the structural imbalances and restore hope in the country.

Gowon, who was represented by a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, added that only this could promote confidence in one Nigeria.

He said, “I believe that a lot of injustice has been done to the Igbo and a constitutional debate on restructuring must address all imbalances and restore hope and confidence.

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“Nigeria is big enough for all of us and I believe that the Igbo, Middle Belt and the Yoruba are the true Nigerians because if you look round our borders, people came from abroad and are still coming but Ndigbo have always been there, Middle Belt people have always been there, even Yoruba have always been there.

“People who came in yesterday who have a duty of respect are now the ones talking. Going forward, we must create a federal democracy that will respond positively to all the aspirations of our people, not about East-West but all about working together in equality, bringing in the youths and the women to build a new Nigeria.”

Gowon called for justice, equity and fair play in Nigeria, adding that while the country must be restructured to engender national development, the process must be done in an atmosphere of tolerance and love for one another.