FRESH: Peter Obi Under Fire For Celebrating Yakubu Gowon At 90 Amid Nigerian-Biafran War Trauma—-Former Anambra governor and presidential hopeful, Peter Obi, has come under heavy criticism over his birthday message to General Yakubu Gowon
Gowon is a former head of state and statesman who led the federal military government war efforts during the Nigerian-Biafran war
Legit reports that the war killed an estimated 500,000 to 3,000,000 people, most of whom were individuals of Eastern Nigerian extraction.
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, praised a former military ruler, Yakubu Gowon, as the latter clocked 90 years. Obi honoured Gowon via a social media post.
In a birthday message shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday, October 19, the Labour Party chieftain said Gowon’s “exemplary leadership and statesmanship remain an inspiration to younger and many generations of Nigerians.”
General Gowon was Nigeria’s head of state during the Nigeria-Biafra War. His government refused to recognise Biafra’s secession.
As a result of Gowon’s connection with the outbreak of the Nigerian-Biafran war which killed an estimated 500,000 to 3,000,000 people (mostly Igbos), some X users took exception to Obi’s post.
Legit.ng captured some reactions.
See them below:
@nkechi_first wrote: “As an Igbo person who deeply understands the pain and trauma inflicted on our people during the Biafran War, it is truly disheartening to read this message coming from Peter Obi, someone who should know better.
“While I respect the need for civility, let’s not rewrite history. Gowon’s actions during the war led to the deaths and suffering of millions of Igbo men, women, and children. The scars of that period still run deep in the hearts of many of us. Celebrating his “unity” and “peace” without acknowledging the atrocities and starvation policies imposed on our people feels like a betrayal.
“Peter Obi, you are someone who has carried the hopes of the Igbo people, and we look to you to speak truth to power, not to gloss over painful truths. Unity should be built on justice and acknowledgment of the past, not by ignoring or romanticising the role of those who contributed to our suffering.
“The Biafran War is not just a chapter in history. It’s a wound that still bleeds for many families. Please, let’s not diminish our pain in the name of national politics.”
