Apex pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has taken the former head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, to task over some recent comments he made regarding the Biafra War experience.
In a statement by its Secretary-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the organisation issued what it called “A direct and resolute call for reconciliation and healing’, entitled ‘Best Time for Gowon to Apologise to Igbos Now He’s Alive, and to Heal the Wounds of the War Forever’
It said the comments attributed to Gowon following his visit to President Bola Tinubu on February 21, 2024, “have once again reopened deep wounds and inflicted profound hurt upon the Igbo nation, both within Nigeria and across the diaspora.
“We note with concern the inflammatory nature of Gowon’s statements and the deliberate targeting of the collective Igbo psyche.”
Ohanaeze said the continued insistence of General Gowon on reiterating his version of events during the Biafra War over the past 54 years is a source of great distress to the Igbo people.
“We challenge Gowon to reflect on his actions and recognise the need for reconciliation and repentance.
“His steadfast refusal to acknowledge the pain and suffering caused by the war displays a lack of empathy and a failure to grasp the gravity of his role in that dark period of our history.
The organisation also asserted that the former head of state’s “Survival for over five decades, despite the loss of over three million Igbo lives during the war, presents him with a unique opportunity for redemption and reconciliation.
“As a professed Christian, we implore Gowon to heed the call of conscience and take the necessary steps to seek forgiveness from the Igbo people by acknowledging his mistakes, revealing the truth behind the Aburi Accord, and issuing a sincere apology.”
It added, “General Gowon must rise above personal pride and historical revisionism to elicit genuine healing and unity in our nation.
“His failure to exhibit contrition and his repeated insensitive comments undermine the reconciliation efforts of the Igbo people, who have demonstrated forgiveness and a commitment to national development.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo calls on General Yakubu Gowon to seize this pivotal moment to discard the relics of the past, embrace humility, and offer a long-overdue apology to the Igbo community.
“By doing so, Gowon can pave the way for genuine reconciliation, foster a climate of understanding and forgiveness, and facilitate lasting peace and harmony in our dear nation.”
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) has warned the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to refrain from its planned nationwide protest scheduled for February 27 and February 28.
The AGF in a letter dated February 23, addressed to NLC’s lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), referred to the planned protest as antithetical to the mediatory engagements which led to the execution of the MoU.
He added that noncompliance with the restraining order of the National Industrial Court could amount to contempt.
Meanwhile, the NLC leadership had issued a warning on its planned protest to embark on an Industrial action as it accused the federal government of refusing to implement the MoU which touched on workers’ welfare among other agreements.
Fagbemi, however, in his letter stated that the planned protest is premised on or connected with alleged non implementation of the 16-point agreement reached with the Federal Government in October last year, adding that, it is targeted at promoting issues connected with hike in fuel price and consequential matters of palliatives, workers welfare, and associated government policies.
Fagbemi reminded Falana in his letter titled, “Re: Memorandum of Understanding reached between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) as a result of dispute arising from withdrawal of subsidy on the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) on Monday, the 2nd of October, 2023”, of a pending case before the National Industrial Court regarding the development.
“Upon the submission of grievances to the court, parties in the suit cannot resort to public protests over the same issues, as such conduct amounts to gross contempt and affront to the institution of our courts of law.
Meanwhile, the NLC in its reply through its lawyer told the AGF that the planned nationwide protest is not contemptuous.
He stressed that the National Industrial Court did not restrain Nigerian workers from protesting against excruciating economic pains being experienced by the masses under the President Bola Tinubu administration.
Falana held that the Federal Government, having earlier withdrawn the contempt proceedings filed against the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) for embarking on public protest on August 2, 2023, the AGF ought not to have threatened the NLC with contempt of court over its plan to hold rallies against the astronomical cost of living in the country.
Falana explained that while negotiations between organised labour and the Federal Government were in progress, the Federal Ministry of Justice had rushed to the National Industrial Court to file Suit No NICN/ABJ/158/2023 between the Federal Government of Nigeria & Anor. v Nigeria Labour Congress & Anor, seeking to force the NLC and TUC to comply with the ex parte order, though they promptly filed an application to set aside order for want of jurisdiction.
He wrote that the application to set aside the ex parte order filed by the defendants and the motion for interlocutory injunction filed by the claimants have not been considered as parties resolved to settle the case out of court.
Falana stated that while the application has not been heard and determined by the National Industrial Court, the fundamental rights of Nigerians have not been restrained by the court.
“We submit, without any fear of contradiction, that the proposed public protest of the NLC is not contemptuous of the two ex parte orders of the National Industrial Court.
“In particular, the issue of contempt does not arise as the NLC has challenged the jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court to entertain the substantive case.
“It states further that the National Industrial Court has not restrained the members of the NLC from exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression to protest against the excruciating economic pains being experienced by the masses”.
He held that the National Assembly has ensured that the right of aggrieved citizens to protest peacefully for or against the Government is protected.
Falana told the AGF that while he has advised the members of the NLC to conduct the rallies scheduled for February 27-28 in a peaceful manner, the AGF should use his good offices “to direct the Inspector-General of Police to provide adequate security to the conveners and participants in the protest in line with the provisions of Section 83(4) of the Police Establishment Act.”.
