ABUJA/ENUGU/LAGOS, Federal Republic of Nigeria. (Report by Chesa Chesa, Andrew Utulu, Emma Nzomiwu) — Former Minister of Defence retired General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma has blamed the late former Biafran leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu for the mass killings of Igbos during the civil war of 1967 to 1970.
Danjuma spoke when President Goodluck Jonathan paid a private visit at his residence in Asokoro, Abujaon Wednesday. The agenda of the meeting was not disclosed to journalists, but it was gathered that President Jonathan had thanked him for his fatherly support during the election. It will be recalled that Danjuma had visited the President in Aso Rock just a few days before the presidential elections.
Speaking to the press after the president had left, Danjuma while commending President Jonathan for his decision to concede defeat to retired Major General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the just concluded presidential election, said it set a record in the history of the country and saved the nation some commotion.
He argued that if Ojukwu had similarly conceded defeat after federal troops seized the then Biafran capital, Enugu during Nigeria’s civil war, the nation would have been saved a full year of bloodshed.
His words: “The outcome of the election and the manner in which President Jonathan conceded victory to Buhari is totally un-African; it is very important in the history of Africa.
“If Ojukwu did the same after the fall of Enugu, if he had conceded victory to the federal troops he would have saved the nation one full year of bloodshed.
“President Jonathan has set a record in history as something to be emulated by the rest of Africa and indeed the whole world. It is an excellent thing he did”.
Danjuma is a liar — Dozie Ikedife
However, a former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Dozie Ikedife berated the former Minister of Defence, calling him a liar Ikedife said “If he said that, the gentleman is a clear liar. When a pogrom was committed against people, they ran back home and you commenced police action. Ojukwu decided to secure his people.
“Did he attack any part of Nigeria? He wanted to secure his people. Nigeria declared police action and later declared full scale war. The man is liar. Thank God that some of us who saw the war are alive.
“This is another provocation. Oba Riwan Akiolu of Lagos launched the first attack on the Igbos from the West. Now, Danjuma sitting in a cosy zone with all his oil wells is attacking from the North. He should stop lying before he dies”
Also, the Eze Ndigbo in Ikeja, Chief Uche Dimgba told Daily Independent in a telephone interview that Danjuma was trying to infuriate the Igbo. Dimgba who is Okpotembe of Igbele in Bende Local Government of Area of Abia State said Danjuma was only trying to open up healed wounds even as he said such statement was capable of stoking trouble. “This is capable of causing trouble. The war has come and gone and the Ikemba is late. The Igbo are in every nook and cranny of the country doing legitimate business and he is peace loving. People stop castigating Ndigbo and talking against Ikemba, the late great Igbo leader,” he said.
Another respondent who pleaded anonymity said they would not drag the name of their revered leader into matter now that he is late .He said some individuals have made it a habit to take the press to the late Ikemba’s tomb from time to time, describing such as a desecration.
