I'm very sure many Igbos would want to hear what he has to say or his motivations and reasons for fighting against the actualization of the sovereign state of Biafra which was a secession struggle by the South-Eastern parts of Nigeria, spearheaded by the late Odumegwu Ojukwu.
This Biafran struggle (Biafran War, 6 July 1967 – 15 January 1970) over the two and half years of the war, led to the death of two million civilians (South Eastern) from forced famine and fighting. This tragic event has left bitterness and anger in the hearts of the Igbos ethnic group against Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Rtd) who was then Nigeria's Military Head of State.
Lets wait and see what he has to say during this lecture... Read details of the lecture according to Vanguard below:
"Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd) will on March 25 deliver a lecture at the 6th convocation ceremony of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, formerly Anambra State University.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Fidelis Okafor, who announced this on Wednesday at a news conference held at the Igbariam campus of the university, said that the former head of state would deliver a lecture on the topic: `No Victor, No Vanquished: Healing the Nigerian Nation`.
The vice-chancellor said that 14 Ph.D graduates, 54 students of Masters Programmes, 97 post graduate diploma and 2,800 first degree graduates would be conferred with degree certificates on March 26.
“Some 45 years ago at the end of the Civil War, Gowon made an epoch-making speech and he is going to speak on that.
“It is also an opportunity for this General to come to a university named after his rival during the war.
“Gowon has never made any public statement on the event of between 1967 and 1970.
“I think also that he wishes to use the opportunity to speak to the Igbo people before he exits from this earth.“
According to him, the event will be the first convocation of the university since it became Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University.
The vice-chancellor said that the Senate President, David Mark and the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu would be conferred with honourary and post-humous doctorate degrees respectively at the convocation.
He said that Mark, Ojukwu and Gowon were special military men, who distinguished themselves in the history of Nigeria."
Ojukwu my great hero may your soul continue to rest in peace Amen
ReplyDeletei would love to hear the speech
ReplyDeletehe should write a book and tell us the real story. will love to read his story
ReplyDelete