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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Politics / Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War (8043 Views)
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Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by Rossippi: 1:20am On Feb 17, 2020 |
After Ojukwu fled and the East surrendered, they were at the mercy of federal troops. The federal troops were ready to march into the east and slaughter every single person there, thus ending the existence of the Igbo ethnic group. Then they received a call from Lagos. From Yakubu Gowon, who ordered them to sheathe their swords, and return to the barracks. Without that call from Gowon, there would be no Igbos today, as an ethnic group. There would be no Onitsha, Enugu, Owerri, Umuahia, Nnewi, Aba, or Abakaliki today. Those places would have been renamed and would today be called, New Kaduna New Benin Orisha Town New Lagos New Ilorin New Zaria Osun City New Ilesha etc etc. See, THAT is what NORMALLY happens when you lose a war. You are not just left alone to carry on where you left off. All your leaders are executed. Your cities are burned to the ground, and your men massacred or enslaved, and your women carted off as wives and concubines, and scattered across the land. But in Nigeria's case it was different, thanks to General Yakubu Gowon. After the war he declared ''No Victor, No Vanquished''. A WORLD FIRST. The entire world was STUNNED. They least expected such a rare display of humanity and magnanimity from any country, least of all, an AFRICAN country. Africa was a continent they had long dismissed as a savage, barbaric land filled with primitive, warring tribes who despised one other. Gowon's declaration of ''No Victor, No Vanquished'' made world headlines, and was aired in every newspaper and TV station on earth when it happened, to serve as an example to the world, and to humanity, that military victory does not have to translate to the annihilation of your foe. He even gave the defeated Biafrans money! And sent in federal funds to help rebuild their fallen cities! And allowed them to continue with self governance! That simply never happens in warfare. If you don't know warfare, go and study warfare. Message for secessionist haters: Truth is, if Nigeria was anywhere near as evil, wicked and hateful of Igbos as you say she is, you wouldn't actually exist. 9 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by Rossippi: 1:25am On Feb 17, 2020 |
Cancelling out the words means nothing. People can still read them. And those tribal marks.... I absolutely love 'em. It's called African Culture, something you know nothing about, being a colonised, ignorant air head. 6 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by gidgiddy: 1:45am On Feb 17, 2020 |
Rossippi: You are very ignorant. How do you think Gowon won the war against Biafra? He achieved it with the massive support he got, in terms of of arms and ammunition, from super power nations such as Britain and Russia. He claimed he was fighting a war to keep Nigeria one. That was the only legitimacy he had. Had Gowon gone on to commit genocide after the war ended, the legitimacy would have swung in favour of Ojukwu. The international community would have agreed that Ojukwu was actually fighting to safeguard his people and they would have come down hard on Gowon and Nigeria Lets not forget that as at the time the War ended, there were still thousands of armed Biafran Soldiers in the bushes. The major reason why they chose to lay down their arms was that their wasnt mass killing of people like they thought. Had a genocide occurred after the war ended, its most likely that the international community and the UN would have switched loyalty to Biafra and Nigeria would have been defeated Gowon didnt do anyone any favours. Gowon is still listed as a genocidal killer in the international community. Gowon singlehandedly caused the civil war by going back on the Aburi agreement he signed with Ojukwu in Ghana Gowon was no hero, he only fought for his fellow Northerners to have economic and political control of Nigeria 25 Likes 3 Shares |
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by Rossippi: 1:59am On Feb 17, 2020 |
gidgiddy: Bros, you cannot invent history or rewrite it. In 1967 there was no satellite technology to monitor who was killing whom. It was a case of if the govt allowed media to enter a region, then they could report on what they saw. If they refused to let you in, you saw and knew nothing. They would have eliminated Igbos and nothing would have happened, you hear? The British would have loved nothing more than for the Nigerian army to go in there and decimate the 'troublesome' Igbos after their surrender. The British media would have just said that federal troops went in and mopped up a few remnants of the rebellion. Case closed. Who argues with the British media? What makes you think the coloniser, who created Nigeria, and who himself has a history of genocide in Africa and elsewhere, would care a hoot if Igbos were eliminated as a group? The same Igbos challenging their Nigerian contraption? You folks keep having this idea that the white man is some sort of angel who cares about your black behind. Biafra was a threat to THEIR Nigeria project, and the British gave Nigeria FOR FREE, weapons, warships, and fighter jets to eliminate that threat, but yet you somehow think they cared about you and your survival? And that they would have opposed Gowon for killing too many of you? Was it also the British that asked Gowon to declare No Victor No Vanquished and give you money, and help rebuild your cities? You had ''thousands of armed Biafran Soldiers in the bushes'', so why did you surrender? Why did your leader flee? He clearly had no confidence in the ability of those ''fighters'' or he'd remain there and lead them to victory. Your naivety is so comical. It is the same naivety displayed by Ojukwu in fighting a war in the first place, armed with sticks and stones. The same naivety displayed by IPOB and Kanu today, who approach British parliamentarians and US congressmen to help them actualize Biafra. The very same people who supported and armed Nigeria to keep the nation intact! ![]() I mean, the depth of your geopolitical naivety is just....astonishing. 16 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by amuwo1980: 2:21am On Feb 17, 2020 |
Rossippi: Gutter talks 5 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by Rossippi: 2:25am On Feb 17, 2020 |
amuwo1980: Whenever I see a response like this, with just 1 or 2 words, it just screams, ''I've nothing to say in response to your truth, sir, so let me just drop a quick insult and hope no one notices I'm clueless!'' 14 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by SangoOlukosoOba(m): 2:41am On Feb 17, 2020 |
gidgiddy: Your personal opinion you stated and not a fact. It's a war for God sake, if they wanted to decimate to the least, they could have done comfortably without any international hindrance. It's warfare, everything counts! 7 Likes |
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by gidgiddy: 2:47am On Feb 17, 2020 |
Rossippi: You are incredibly naive. The Nigerian Army has been fighting war with Boko Haram for almost 10 years. The Nigerian government keeps telling you that Boko haram has been defeated but the same Boko haram are killing people daily including Nigerian Soldiers. Thats because Boko haram is no longer fighting conventional warfare but guerilla warfare The Nigerian government didn't actually defeat Biafra, it was Biafra that chose to end the war. My father was a Biafran officer and he told me that there were thousands of armed Biafran Soldiers who were determined to carry on with the war, even if guerilla style. The only reason they decided to stop fighting is because Ojukwus trusted deputy, General Philip Effiong, asked them to give peace a chance. Even as at that, most them still held to their guns for days, even weeks, to know if there was going to be a massacre This narrative that Nigerian Soldiers had conquered the place and could do whatever they wanted wasn't true. Had those thousands of armed Biafran Soldiers chose to carry on guerilla style, the war might still be on now. In the case of Ojukwu fighting a war, he didnt have much choice really. He had gone to Ghana, signed an agreement with Gowon so that there would be no war, Gowon broke the agreement. It was either submit to the will of Gowon and his Northern cohorts or fight for freedom. Freedom is one of the few things in life worth fighting for and Ojukwu and his people have no apologies for doing so Kanu and IPOB are seeking self determination, which enshrined in international law that Nigeria has signed up to. It is the right of self determination that people like Zik, Awolowo and others used in asking for independence from Britain for the indigenous people in Nigeria It is the same right that Kanu and others are using to ask Nigeria for independence for indigenous Igbos of Nigeria. What is wrong in people asking for freedom and independence? May be Kanu's style of agitation may not be to everyone's liking but he has not taken up arms and he did not kill anybody. So what is the problem? Is by force to be a Nigerian? 23 Likes 3 Shares |
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by wirinet(m): 3:09am On Feb 17, 2020 |
gidgiddy:I know emotions would not allow you to reason property, but the OP is right. The outcome of the war could have been worse if Gowon did not intervene. Remember ordinary igbo civilians residing in the nirth were already being massacred by the northerners, imagine what northern soldiers would have done to helpless igbo civilians if Gowon was unable to rein them in. You guys think too much of UK, UN, US and the international community. They are only after their interests. Genocide is going on right now in many parts of the world, ie Rohingya, Tibet, Uyghur, Palestine, etc., and the international community has looked on. If not for the Kurds, the Yazidis would have been wiped of the face of the earth by ISIS. Gowon never wanted war, he only wanted power and to avenge the January 1966 murders. He saw the civil war as a fight between brothers and not a fight to the finish. If he had allowed a genocide against the igbos, it would have weighed heavily on the conscience of Nigeria and rendered the victory meaningless. Remember in history, many other tribes had been exterminated after losing a war. Most south American tribes were extinguished by the Spanish. 8 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by Rossippi: 3:10am On Feb 17, 2020 |
gidgiddy: The only thing saving Boko haram is that Nigeria does not want to commit genocide in the north east. They can EASILY wipe out Boko Haram in a matter of days, but that would mean killing millions of civilians, since Boko Haram blend in with the civilian population, and wear no uniforms etc. The Nigerian government didn't actually defeat Biafra, it was Biafra that chose to end the war. You're starting to sound like a drunkard. My father was a Biafran officer and he told me that there were thousands of armed Biafran Soldiers who were determined to carry on with the war, even if guerilla style. The only reason they decided to stop fighting is because Ojukwus trusted deputy, General Philip Effiong, asked them to give peace a chance. Even as at that, most them still held to their guns for days, even weeks, to know if there was going to be a massacre Story for the gods. Your father is not an impartial arbiter. Of course he would say all that to boost his ego, and to keep you worshiping him. This narrative that Nigerian Soldiers had conquered the place and could do whatever they wanted wasn't true. Had those thousands of armed Biafran Soldiers chose to carry on guerilla style, the war might still be on now. No it WOULDN'T. First, because you need a LEADER, even in guerilla warfare, and your leader had fled to Ivory Coast. Secondly, as I stated earlier, a conventional army can destroy a guerrilla army in a matter of MINUTES if there are no concerns about civilian casualties. So if Biafra had carried on a guerrilla campaign, Nigeria would have simply responded by CARPET BOMBING the entire east, and that would be the end of it. In the case of Ojukwu fighting a war, he didnt have much choice really You ALWAYS have a choice when it comes to war. You simply REFUSE to engage in it. Especially when you have no weapons to prosecute the said war. You look for every way to avoid conflict. You don't go declaring ''secession'' knowing you have no weapons to defend your position. That is called a miscalculation. Kanu and IPOB are seeking self determination, which enshrined in international law that Nigeria has signed up to. It is the right of self determination that people like Zik, Awolowo and others used in asking for independence from Britain for the indigenous people in Nigeria I wouldn't go down this fruitless route if I were you. Do you realise there are over 50 separatist groups in the USA today? There are groups who want Texas to secede from the US. Some want California to secede. Go and ask Trump, whom you people love so much, what he thinks of the idea of Texas seceding from the US under the ''right to self-determination''. He'll put you straight. Nations simply do not like the idea of secession, whatever the UN says. 7 Likes |
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by Rossippi: 3:14am On Feb 17, 2020 |
wirinet: My brother, is it only South American tribes? The entire native American Indian population that once occupied the country we now know as the USA, what happened to them? Completely obliterated from the face of the earth. Today a few remnants of them are packed into ''reservations'' where they are monitored like animals in a cage! On their own ancestral land! 4 Likes |
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by Uchek(m): 3:21am On Feb 17, 2020 |
You have no unemployed or under employed. Off all the issues beleaguering Nigeria, this is want captures your fancy. Even Gowon's kinsman are lamenting and weeping. Rossippi: 2 Likes |
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by Uchek(m): 3:24am On Feb 17, 2020 |
Why didn't Americans massacre Southern Americans when they prevailed? wirinet: 1 Like |
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by Rossippi: 3:27am On Feb 17, 2020 |
Uchek: Americans massacred native Americans. South America is different from America, ie USA. I'm really not sure you know enough to contribute to this debate. Why not just read and learn? 6 Likes |
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by wirinet(m): 3:40am On Feb 17, 2020 |
gidgiddy:You cannot compare boko haram with the Biafran conflict. Boko Haram is a well funded and armed group. Boko Haram is international in nature getting support and logistics from numerous countries and sources. They are active in many countries in West Africa. All these advantages the Biafrans did/don't have. As you said Boko haram is not fighting a conventional war but a guerilla one. Such unconventional war is extremely difficult to win. Even the Almighty USA has not been able to defeat the Taliban after close to 20 years of war. Your dad lied to you. The Biafrans had completely run out of food and ammunition. Ojukwu has lost most of his territory and the federal troops were closing up on him. Each day the war prolonged, thousands of Biafran children, women and population were dying of starvation. The pictures of children and even men with serious cases of malnutrition immediately after the war are all over the Internet. Prolonging the war further would have been considered genocide. Guerilla style war in such a small space with high population density after losing a war against a bitter enemy? The soldiers would just shoot every thing that moves. The aburi according was hand Ojukwu secession through the back door, it would never have worked. It would have made things difficult for other regions that did not ask for secession. Another lie by IPOB. There is no international law anywhere that allows for secession. What the international law allows is rights of Indigenous peoples . Rights of Indigenous people does not equate to secession.
Kanu has no right to ask anyone for independence. Kanu has no authority whatsoever to ask for anything, except you are telling me a mad man can shout from the streets or social media that freedom should be given to hemp smokers to do as they like, and have the support of hundreds of hemp smokers. Nigeria's independence went through the political process. It went through paliament, was negotiated with the British and the regions had constitutional conferences. One man did not go into the streets insulting Britain and British people demanding for independence. No. You could renounce your Nigerian citizen if you wish, afterall kanu is a British citizen. If the igbos want out of Nigeria, they know what do do. They have many intelligent people. 7 Likes |
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by Rossippi: 4:04am On Feb 17, 2020 |
wirinet: Lol.. that one will come here and cause trouble and when it gets too hot, retire to his base in London to chop life. |
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by dnawah(m): 5:15am On Feb 17, 2020 |
Rossippi:this is a war that they said there was no winner no vanquish, how can someone be call hero,my brother stop raising dust. 2 Likes |
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by TeleboiZ005(m): 6:46am On Feb 17, 2020 |
Another spam thread. Op whats the essence of this thread ![]() |
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by Rossippi: 7:34am On Feb 17, 2020 |
TeleboiZ005: Do you actually know what 'spam' means? I very much doubt it. Spam doesn't mean a topic you do not like. Op whats the essence of this thread What is so wrong about that? Just because you don't feel comfortable giving credit to a non-Easterner doesn't mean we shouldn't tell the truth or discuss the issue. |
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by Rossippi: 7:38am On Feb 17, 2020 |
dnawah: Because they said No Victor, No Vanquished doesn't mean we don't discuss the matter. Or was it not a person that made that declaration? That person does not deserve recognition or praise? Millions of people (including probably yourself) are alive today because of that decision he made, to withdraw federal troops. Why do you want to ignore him? Perhaps if it was you that led the victors you would have gone in for the full kill, as normally happens in war? Just drop your foolish pride and arrogance and admit that Gowon did a good thing. It won't kill you, you hear? 1 Like |
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by Rossippi: 8:16am On Feb 17, 2020 |
Uchek: No idea what you're on about dude. |
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by TeleboiZ005(m): 8:19am On Feb 17, 2020 |
Rossippi:Dat kind truth...there are many "truths" about the civil war. You are always free to believe ur truth. You cant force it on people. A lot of people have their truths. 1 Like |
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by TeleboiZ005(m): 8:23am On Feb 17, 2020 |
Op of all the things happening in Nigeria currently to tell the "truth" about the war and praising gowon is your main concern? 7 Likes |
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by Tobrasky: 9:21am On Feb 17, 2020 |
APCNig:Yes indeed Gowon made a terrible mistake, and that's why the Igbos, the master race and eternal masters of the subhuman yaribanza apes are now ever present, growing from strength to strength, and a constant menace to afonja bastards. The tables are fast turning and the afonja subhumans are now becoming the endangered species, the afonja tribe of fraudsters, ritual killers, rapists, incestuos deviants, pioneers of the first most notorious armed robber in Nigeria, fetish degenerates, and slaves to the Fulani caliphate are now having it tough from all ends ![]() 6 Likes 1 Share
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Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by kettykings: 9:31am On Feb 17, 2020 |
Rossippi: this post reeks with gross and undiluted ignorance, what if at the point of wiping out the igbos , the Soviet Union - British, East Germany Alliance that back Nigeria change their mind and back Biafra , sending the same level of support to the Biafran military as they did for Nigeria , what do you think would happen. The east surrendered to save lives of those dying as a result of starvation and not because of any military strength or strategy of Nigeria, please you have to understand this and not make a fool of Nigeria 11 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by ObereEmma: 9:47am On Feb 17, 2020 |
Imagine Mods keeping this kind of tread open. Op you are ignorant sha.. U dont know how dangerous a man is when he has nothing to live for. Read Madiebo account of the war.. Baifra soldiers opting for a guerilla warfare should have kept the war up to 10years . Theirs were protecting their land and people in it. .. Imagine like Boko haram that doesnt have a location or care about the people. Let Buhari try and flush millitant in Niger delta first before your lots keep boasting. And after 50yrs your People are the one in IDP CAMPS living with mercy from those you should have wiped 50yrs Ago. They come to your Land buy land and build houses making u a tenant.. Is Our God Not A miracle God 11 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by gidgiddy: 10:02am On Feb 17, 2020 |
wirinet: Article 1 and article 20(1) of the UN and AU charters allows all people the right to agitate for self determination. Nigeria is a signatory to both laws. Anybody has the right to ask for independence from another. What right do you think Zik and others had to ask for independence from Britain that created Nigeria? It was their right of self determination as indigenous people of the land. Kanu, IPOB and Igbos have the same right to ask for independence from Nigeria. There is nothing Kanu is doing now that Zik and other nationalists did not do when they started the struggle for Nigerian independence. They took to the streets, protested and hurled abuse at the colonial authorities. Zik regularly carpeted Britain in his Newspaper called The Pilot. The Aburi Accord was signed by both Gowon and Ojukwu. That agreement virtually made Nigeria a confederation of 4 Regions. Gowon broke that agreement with Decree 14 where he abolished the 4 Regions and replaced them with 12 states so as to make centre strong, weaken the federating units so that him and his fellow Northerners could be the masters of Nigeria. Ojukwu and his people were not about to take that laying down. Thats what brought about the war. How can anyone say that Gowon is a hero over a war he caused with decree 14? If Gowon felt that the agreement he sighed with Ojukwu was no longer tenable, the proper thing to do was to seek another renegotiation. The international community still lists Gowon alongside Idi Amin of Uganda and Mengitsu Haile of Ethiopia as the biggest genocidists to come out of Africa 12 Likes |
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by tricksters: 10:39am On Feb 17, 2020 |
Eveeytime I read about Biafra it only help to reiterate how foolish the igbo tribe could be in chest beating. Here are the reasons why according to the OP submission... A. You indicated Gowon got foreign support to win the war but your foolish pathetic soul count that as a minus instead of highlighting the failures of your pathetic fathers who grandstand in emphatic failure for not being able to attractive foreign support to aid your cause. This is something boko Haram, Houtis South Sudan n many smalls country achieved effortlessly. B. Gowon did not commit genocide after the war ended n this pathetic n exceedingly foolish Igbo is praising Ojukwu that ran away in olosho clothing after surrending for Gowon not committing suicide n many of his foolish tribesmen will be liking his post. C. Aburi accord - some foolish Igbos orchestrated the 1st coup n banished the constitution that was accented to by each n every repsentative that made up the entity Nigeria n now expect the same Nigerians to accept a document they forged from the bedroom of their bigoted mothers as acceptable after being beaten blue-black in the Biafra war they initiated. How a foolish tribe can be so delusional to the extent of losing a war n making demand is beyond all human reasoning, adding anything to this will only show I am as foolish as the tribe dreaming such foolishness. Country are made to pay reparation after losing wars not to make demands. German just finished paying reparation for causing the 2nd world War. D. This idiot claims Gowon only fought for his fellow northerners to have economic n political control of Nigeria but did not state why foolish Igbos orchestrated the first coup or why they suspended the regional govt we operated then if not to corner the same economy n political power. gidgiddy: 4 Likes |
Re: Yakubu Gowon Was The True Hero Of The Civil War by WATCHOVER(m): 10:43am On Feb 17, 2020 |
Op are you a historian? Sentiments apart the true heroes were from the South South, South West and Middle belt. |
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