How Gowon’s weak leadership style led to Nigerian-Biafran war – Malcom Omirhobo

Barely 24 hours after former military Head of State, Yakubu Gowon (Rtd), celebrated his 90th birthday, human rights lawyer Malcolm Omirhobo has attributed the outbreak of the Nigerian-Biafran war to Gowon’s leadership style.

The Nigerian Civil War, which lasted from 1967 to 1970, saw the Nigerian government face off against the predominantly Igbo eastern region, led by Chukwuemeka Ojukwu.

While many Nigerians believe the conflict resulted from the eastern region’s quest to secede, Omirhobo presented a different view.

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In a post on his Facebook page on Saturday, the lawyer said:

“It is not true that South-East desire to secede that led to the Nigeria/Biafra War but rather it was Gowon’s poor and weak leadership style, colonial mentality, youthful exuberance, and immaturity that led to the Nigerian/Biafran war.

“Gowon refused, failed, and/or neglected to stop the senseless killing of the Igbos and their look-alikes throughout Nigeria, especially in the North, by civilians and members of the armed forces. He refused to provide funds to the Eastern Region Government to cater for the injured and displaced Igbos that ran to their homeland for safety from all parts of Nigeria. Gowon, without any good reason, refused the Aburi Accord.

“For the records, the Igbos fought in self-defense.”

Omirhobo’s remarks reflect a longstanding debate about the causes and consequences of the Nigerian Civil War, which claimed millions of lives and left lasting scars on the nation.