Group to Gowon: No prayers can erase six million Igbo deaths

Gowon

Igbo women under the aegis of Igbo Women Assembly, has berated the former Nigerian Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon over his comment on the Civil War, stating that no amount of his prayers would atone for the blood of over six million innocent Igbo children massacred during the needless civil crisis.

Gowon had, in a recent interview after he was honoured with a Life Time Integrity and Achievement award at the fifth convention of the Christian Men’s Fellowship Abuja, Anglican Diocese, said his decision to prosecute the war was not borne out of hatred but by the urgency to preserve national unity.

He said, “I always remember the Civil War, it was the most difficult period of my life. It wasn’t my choice, but i had to be there and I had to do what I did in order to keep the country together; it was never a hatred against any people I can assure you that.”

Reflecting on life after the war, the former Head of State emphasised that his decisions have been guided by prayers and desire to act with integrity and compassion.

“As far as this heart is concerned, everything I do is through prayers,I asked God to help me to do the right thing, the way He thinks it should be done with love and respect for the people. That is why at the end what do we have to say? No victor, no vanquished. “

Reacting, while speaking during a recent sit-at-home declared by Biafra agitators on May 30 in honour of those who lost their lives while defending the defunct republic, the National President of IWA, Lolo Nneka Chimezie, reminded the former military leader that no amount of his prayers will assuage the blood of over 6million Igbo children massacred during the civil

“Gen. Gowon, who supervised the war and genocide against the Igbos, is busy going around the country, praying. But we want to remind him that no amount of prayers can wash away the stain of the blood of over six million innocent Igbo children, women and men wasted during the war.