A chieftain of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro has commended the former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) for his bold and historic assertion that the January 1966 coup d’état was unequivocally not an Igbo coup.
Mazi Isiguzoro in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP, said the courageous acknowledgment stands as a crucial milestone in altering the narrative that has unjustly painted the Igbo people as antagonists within the broader scope of Nigeria’s tumultuous political landscape.
He noted that the revelation signals a potential cessation of the entrenched vindictiveness, cruelty, and deep-seated animosities directed toward the Igbo Nation over the past five decades.
Isiguzoro noted Babangida’s clarity during his recent book launch titled: “A Journey in Service,” regarding the 1966 coup, notably his exemption of the Igbo people from the unjust label of being “enemies of the North,” as indeed commendable—albeit belated.
“The ramifications of the erroneous classification of the 1966 January Coup as an Igbo insurrection have been profoundly detrimental, leading to catastrophic consequences not only during that tumultuous period, but extending into the present day.
“In the wake of this tragic history, the Igbo people continue to suffer from systemic injustices and marginalisation. The tragic closure of the Eastern Economic Corridor, characterised by the permanent shutdown of the Calabar Seaport and other critical infrastructures, underscores the extent of our exclusion,” he said.
He called on the Federal government to confront the shadows of the historical traumas of Ndigbo over the years.
“It is imperative that the current federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, must confront the shadows of our historical traumas.
“We demand a public and unreserved apology from the President on behalf of past military regimes, particularly that of General Yakubu Gowon, who orchestrated unprovoked bombardments and shellings over Igbo territory during the Nigeria-Biafra War that resulted in immense human suffering and loss.
“Furthermore, Ndigbo should maintain its resolute stance that the Nigerian federal government must dispel the long-standing inequities perpetrated against the Igbo nation by paying reparations amounting to 10 trillion naira.
“This demand is not merely a demand for financial restitution or restitution; it is a necessary acknowledgment of the value of human lives lost and the cultural and infrastructural devastation endured by our people, which remains evident even 55 years post-conflict,” he added.
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