Dr Josef Onoh, the brother-in-law to the late Biafra leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has refuted claims by former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, that the two had reconciled.
Onoh clarified that what Gowon referred to as a reconciliation meeting was, in fact, a condolence visit after the passing of his father, Chief C.C. Onoh, who was also Ojukwu’s father-in-law.
In a statement, Onoh described Gowon’s narration as inaccurate, insisting that the former Head of State confused a chance meeting in Enugu with reconciliation.
Onoh further explained that Gowon’s visit was primarily to pay respects following the passing of Chief C.C. Onoh in May 2009, a funeral Gowon missed because he was out of the country.
According to Onoh, the meeting Gowon claims as reconciliation was a courtesy visit during his condolence tour, adding that Ojukwu and Gowon never reconciled as the former Head of State has portrayed.
The strained relationship between Gowon and Ojukwu stems from their roles during the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970). Gowon led the Federal Government, while Ojukwu headed the breakaway state of Biafra.
He said, “I was present in the meeting, I served him and he told me he doesn’t take alcoholic drinks and opted for water or orange juice. He brought up the importance of reconciliation and Ojukwu made it clear that he holds no grudge against him and that as soldiers they did what they believed was best at that time for their country and that he (Ojukwu) doesn’t support another Biafra that will be achieved with bloodshed and massacre of the Igbo.
“Gowon left and Ojukwu promised to honour him with a visit and he said he was most likely to be out of the country and Ojukwu replied ‘even during the civil War I knew your every movement and location and since I’ve promised to honour you with a visit as you did me, I’ll find you even if you are in the moon.’
‘We all laughed and escorted him out. Ojukwu said a closing prayer in Latin at the amazement of everyone present including Gowon. We admired the two men that their actions shaped Nigeria. Ojukwu was fluent in Hausa, French, Yoruba, English, Latin and Ibo and in every way his image and oratory dominated the moment, hence I understand the reason why Gen. Yakubu Gowon is attempting to change history by giving a wrong narrative of events.
“He, Gowon, have always suffered an extreme high level of inferiority complex around Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu and even in death he’s unable to rise above that shackles of inferiority, which was still manifest in his condolence message and Tribute to Ikemba Odumegwu-Ojukwu.”
On the London meeting between Ojukwu and Gowon, Onoh disclosed that Gowon exhibited his highest form of insecurity with Ojukwu, particularly when Gowon noticed that Ojukwu’s biographer, Author Fredrick Foresight, was in the vicinity of their meeting in a London hotel.
He said, “It was two months after Easter of 2010 that Ikemba said that since we were in London, let’s pay a visit to Gen. Gowon and I recall asking him ‘Ezeigbo, who do we call to get his address or phone number? He smiled and said I have it right here in my pocket!’
I was the one that called using my T-mobile Uk number, Gowon’s wife picked up and I informed her to hold on to speak with Ojukwu. The chat was brief and Ikemba said we should proceed to the hotel. It was two days later, at about 4pm that Gen. Gowon came and I’m amazed at all his narration of how ‘if he was going to be assassinated and other nonsense, like a James Bond fiction movie. Frederick (Foresight) wrote what he witnessed during the war and I don’t expect Gen. Gowon to like his narrative because Fredrick portrayed him as he was at that period.
“Finally, out of respect for Gen. Gowon who was a good friend to my late father and also my late brother-in-law, Ikemba Odumegwu-Ojukwu, I shall refrain from saying much for it will reopen old wounds especially some sensitive issues that was raised by Ojukwu and it was Gowon that refused to have a sincere and candid discussion with Ojukwu during his visit in UK.
In Gowon’s words ‘Frederick will now go out and write I came to apologize to Ojukwu.’ He was very nasty on that visit especially towards Frederick, but I’ll leave the rest to history and all that was said. But I urge and respectfully plead with Gen. Gowon not to alter stories to make himself appear a Victor because he feels Ojukwu is dead and no one, not Ojukwu’s children will come to alter his wild inaccurate stories, I was close to Ikemba in his lifetime and as he fondly called me ‘My most wonderful brother-in-law.’
“I can say a billion fantastic stories of that great son of Africa (Ojukwu) that most people haven’t heard, I can tell stories from his lips to my ears that will leave a lot of people in shock, Gen. Obasanjo remains one of very few officers he had tremendous respect for and you can never hear Obasanjo attempting to sing like a canary in the media to discuss their military exploits, the men and comrades they lost, nor attempt to score cheap goals by giving false narratives of fellow comrades.
“To Gowon I say ‘The dead don’t talk,’ but I’m privileged to have heard him talk while alive. When you lie, you have to tell another lie to cover the first lie, then another lie, and so on. It is so much easier to tell the truth than it is to lie because I was there and the truth shall set you free.”