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| …Says his coming book will lend credence to Achebe |
A participant and apparent living
encyclopedia of the events that led to the fratricidal civil war in Nigeria
between 1967 and 1970, Col Joe Achuzia (Air raid), has joined issues with
critics of celebrated novelist, Prof. Chinua Achebe, who in his latest work:
“There was a country,” blamed former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd),
and the Yoruba political leader and Vice Chairman of the then National
Executive Council, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, of formulating policies that
led to the horrendous genocide against the Igbos of Eastern Nigeria.
Achuzia yesterday told Daily Sun that
Gowon and Awolowo were responsible for the genocide, while dismissing critics
of Achebe.
Gowon and Awolowo were responsible for the genocide, while dismissing critics
of Achebe.
Pointedly, he accused Gowon of playing
the ostrich while brazen murders of his military superiors and massive genocide
were being perpetrated under his watch.
the ostrich while brazen murders of his military superiors and massive genocide
were being perpetrated under his watch.
He also accused Awolowo of using his
position after his release from prison to extract a pound of flesh from his
perceived enemies, whom he believed, unwittingly, through the NPC/NCNC Accord
(Northern Peoples Congress/National Council of Nigeria Citizens) contributed to
his imprisonment.
position after his release from prison to extract a pound of flesh from his
perceived enemies, whom he believed, unwittingly, through the NPC/NCNC Accord
(Northern Peoples Congress/National Council of Nigeria Citizens) contributed to
his imprisonment.
Achuzia, who is putting finishing
touches to his own civil war memoirs, said that when released, it would finally
settle the issue and put the duo in vintage position as prime perpetrators of
the genocide of more than three million Easterners, who were said to have died
during the strife.
touches to his own civil war memoirs, said that when released, it would finally
settle the issue and put the duo in vintage position as prime perpetrators of
the genocide of more than three million Easterners, who were said to have died
during the strife.
He went down memory lane to exhume
salient facts to buttress Achebe’s stand: “I landed in the country from
overseas on the day of the July 29 coup. I had known the late Murtala Mohammed
and knew he was one of those involved in the crises at the time. He met me at
the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos and arranged accommodation for my family
and me for two days before we departed for Benin.
salient facts to buttress Achebe’s stand: “I landed in the country from
overseas on the day of the July 29 coup. I had known the late Murtala Mohammed
and knew he was one of those involved in the crises at the time. He met me at
the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos and arranged accommodation for my family
and me for two days before we departed for Benin.
“There was intense struggle for power
between Murtala Mohammed and Gowon before and during the Coup. The middle belt,
which had more numerical strength in the army, supported Gowon.”
between Murtala Mohammed and Gowon before and during the Coup. The middle belt,
which had more numerical strength in the army, supported Gowon.”
He continues, “When Gowon took over, he
relied more on Awolowo and the permanent secretaries – Allison Ayinda, Phillip
Asiodu, in formulating policies. Immediately Awo was released from prison,
which (late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu) Ojukwu was instrumental to, thinking he had
a friend, strong anti-Igbo sentiments welled up in the government.
Unfortunately Awo never forgives nor forgets.
relied more on Awolowo and the permanent secretaries – Allison Ayinda, Phillip
Asiodu, in formulating policies. Immediately Awo was released from prison,
which (late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu) Ojukwu was instrumental to, thinking he had
a friend, strong anti-Igbo sentiments welled up in the government.
Unfortunately Awo never forgives nor forgets.
“The events that led him to prison were
never lost on him and, somehow, the NPC/NCNC accord was the issue. He became
the minister of finance and went after the Igbos through his policies. I was in
prison when Gowon held the so-called security meeting that declared police
action. The strategic studies institute was originally planned to be located in
the Mid-West then. Gowon, at the meeting, directed that I should be released
from prison and head the institute. The then head of prisons, Giwa Osagie,
divulged the information to the late Anthony Enahoro and Awo. He suggested that
instead of sitting down in a house for the discussion, since walls have ears,
they should drive about and talk in the car, so that his secrets would be
secured. He forgot that the driver of the car was an Igbo man, who later ran to
the superintendent of prisons at Kirikiri and squealed.
never lost on him and, somehow, the NPC/NCNC accord was the issue. He became
the minister of finance and went after the Igbos through his policies. I was in
prison when Gowon held the so-called security meeting that declared police
action. The strategic studies institute was originally planned to be located in
the Mid-West then. Gowon, at the meeting, directed that I should be released
from prison and head the institute. The then head of prisons, Giwa Osagie,
divulged the information to the late Anthony Enahoro and Awo. He suggested that
instead of sitting down in a house for the discussion, since walls have ears,
they should drive about and talk in the car, so that his secrets would be
secured. He forgot that the driver of the car was an Igbo man, who later ran to
the superintendent of prisons at Kirikiri and squealed.
“The prisons superintendent summoned me
and asked the driver to narrate his story again. Thereafter, I demanded to see
Barrister Okuzo and the late Chief Collins Obih of ACB (African Continental
Bank). They came in the morning to see me and I narrated what I heard to them.
Later, they reached out to the military hierarchy, including Gowon. Four days
after the incident, Osagie was sacked and it caused a lot of commotion. That
was in 1970.
and asked the driver to narrate his story again. Thereafter, I demanded to see
Barrister Okuzo and the late Chief Collins Obih of ACB (African Continental
Bank). They came in the morning to see me and I narrated what I heard to them.
Later, they reached out to the military hierarchy, including Gowon. Four days
after the incident, Osagie was sacked and it caused a lot of commotion. That
was in 1970.
“Achebe got to know about these and he
reflected them in his new book. These two people were responsible for the
formulation of policies and execution of the civil war, including the genocide.
When I release my own book, which is in the making, many things will come to
the fore. I remember that after the declaration of police action by Gowon, I
urged those who used their position to unleash horror and death on innocent
people, before and during the civil war, advising those that are still alive
among them, to seek for forgiveness and atonement of their sins against
humanity.”
reflected them in his new book. These two people were responsible for the
formulation of policies and execution of the civil war, including the genocide.
When I release my own book, which is in the making, many things will come to
the fore. I remember that after the declaration of police action by Gowon, I
urged those who used their position to unleash horror and death on innocent
people, before and during the civil war, advising those that are still alive
among them, to seek for forgiveness and atonement of their sins against
humanity.”
Source: Sun
