Gowon: Please Stop Distorting Facts.

This is in response to statements made by Rtd Gen. Gowon, during a posthumous awards on the tripod of Nigeria ’s independence and First Republic leaders, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello and Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe. According to Tribune online publication (http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/front-page-news/40512-awo-others-bag-posthumous-awards-ojukwu-would-have-ruled-nigeria-gowon-says-islamisation-plan-of-boko-haram-not-northern-agenda),“Former military head of state, General Yakubu Gowon (retd), said Igbo leader and Biafran warlord, the late General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu would have succeeded in ruling the country if he had not been checkmated when he declared the Republic of Biafra and consequently sparked the civil war in 1967. The former head of state, who came to power in the nation’s second military putsch on July 29, 1966 and ruled till July 29, 1975 when his regime was toppled in another coup that led to the installation of the late General Murtala Muhammed, spoke against the background of a documentary on the fratricidal war shown at the ceremony. Reliving some of the events of the civil war fought between July 6, 1967 and January 12, 1970, Gowon described it as a needless war and one never to be wished for again, adding that the war would not have arisen if Odumegwu-Ojukwu had not dismembered the eastern part from the rest of the country. If there was no secession by the late General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, there would not have been war. We tried all we could not to go to war. At the Aburi meeting (held in Ghana in January to forestall the imminent war), all that was demanded by Ojukwu, including my position, were granted. But his secession bid led to the war. If Ojukwu had succeeded, he would have been Nigerian and not Biafran leader. Nigerians and indeed the children who suffered during the war should forgive us”. Since the death of our great leader (Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu), Rtd Gen Gowon, has made 2 conflicting statements. In all, he tried to twist facts about the civil war, all in attempt to portray Dim Ojukwu as the aggressor. This is the continuation of his deceit, lies and twisting of facts. The author will dwell on his (Gowon) recent statements as quoted above. Firstly, Its beyond the authors imagination why Rtd Gowon has chosen to be making conflicting statements about the events that happened, before and during the war, only when Dim Ojukwu had died. The question for him to answer is, why he didn’t say these statements when Dim Ojukwu was alive, being that both were the 2 principal actors. Glad that the records can’t be changed. The fact speaks for itself (Res ipsa loquitor). “Former military head of state, General Yakubu Gowon (retd), said Igbo leader and Biafran warlord, the late General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu would have succeeded in ruling the country if he had not been checkmated when he declared the Republic of Biafra and consequently sparked the civil war in 1967”. Gowon should have been kind enough to tell his audience the true reasons behind the war. One wonders why the Ex Head of State should be leading/conducting Pray Nigeria or Praying Nigeria (a kind of praying ministry for Nigeria), when he cannot put facts straight. “If there was no secession by the late General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, there would not have been war. We tried all we could not to go to war. At the Aburi meeting (held in Ghana in January to forestall the imminent war), all that was demanded by Ojukwu, including my position, were granted”. The author having gone thru the Aburi meeting records, could not see were Dim Ojukwu asked for Gowon’s position, so why would Rtd Gowon say such things? Besides, who jettisoned the Aburi Accord? Gowon or Ojukwu? Nigerians cannot be deceived. Be it known to all Nigerians, that part of our problems today were the none implementation of Aburi Accord by Rtd Gowon. Personally, Rtd Gowon should publicly accept responsibilities for the civil war. “But his secession bid led to the war. If Ojukwu had succeeded, he would have been Nigerian and not Biafran leader. Nigerians and indeed the children who suffered during the war should forgive us”. Again for the records, the war was imposed on the Igbo. Biafra was the only beckon of hope, for all fleeing Igbos then. If Gowon was concerned, why didn’t he stop the pogrom in the North then, why did he impose food blockade during the war, even after the war, what did he do about the abandoned properties, what about policy/punishment of giving every Igbo person only twenty pounds, even if the person(s) had millions in their bank accounts. Someone should tell Rtd Gowon to kindly stop twisting facts, in other not to open the wounds of the civil war. C.V.Akuta UK

Brief Volunteer Scheme.

Are you unemployed, underemployed or employed but wish to change your job(s) or take up a second job, but has not found one yet, then kindly consider taking an unpaid/volunteer job. Also, employers, person(s), government, institution(s), corporate bodies, organizations, establishments etc are hereby pleaded with, to consider recruiting volunteer staffs. Please, if you wish to be part of this project, kindly get in touch thru this email: akutachinedu@yahoo.com Also be kind enough to forward this message to other Nigerians. This message is brought to you by Brief Volunteer Scheme, a pet project of C.V.Akuta ( UK ).

Brief Volunteer Scheme

Fellow Citizens, Please join me from any part of the world today (1st May 2012,Workers Day),to launch one of my pet projects, which is; Brief or Short Volunteer Scheme.The idea is to encourage our army of unemployed and underemployed Nigerians to take up unpaid/volunteer jobs.Those already employed,but wishes to change their job(s) are very much encouraged to take up volunteer jobs. Appeals will be made to the government,employers etc to consider taking/engaging volunteer staffs.The benefits for both the employers and the unemployed people will be enormous. Please,forward this message to all contacts(whether unemployed,under employed or employed).If any person,persons,government,institution(s),corporate bodies,organizations,establishments etc wishes to be part of this project,kindly get in touch thru this email: akutachinedu@yahoo.com May God bless Nigeria. C.V.Akuta UK.

Ibori Goes To Prison: Rejoice Not.

What difference does it make if one thief (James Ibori) goes to prison out of thousands that loot our treasury? As your reading this piece, a lot more looting is taking place or about to take place. On the other hand, half bread is better than nothing. At least one (James Ibori) is down. What about the rest? Will the rest treasury looters ever be caught and sent to prison? Yes if they are caught in UK or maybe other countries, and that is when they cannot escape, like Diepreye Alamieyeseigha did. In Nigeria no, rather treasury looters are rewarded with chieftaincy titles; some become kings and king makers. Other dine and wine with the President or publicly identify themselves with him, Chief/Thief Olabode George did it last year (2011), during the presidential election campaign. Rejoice not fellow Nigerians because we have not yet started fighting corruption. When we start, the rest of the world will begin to take us serious. Not long ago, some Nigerians were demonstrating that Ibori was innocent, before the same court, that sentenced him to prison. Those were paid demonstrators doing our image more harm. Are you sure, treasury looters will learn lessons from Ibori’s imprisonment? The writer is not sure about that. The writer is also concerned about how and when Ibori’s loot will be returned to Nigeria ? Who will receive them and how will the poor masses of Delta State and Nigerians get back their stolen money. Its not enough to send Ibori to jail, but the stolen wealth must get back to their rightful owners immediately. It’s a shame that our rulers, steal our money from Nigeria and bring it to foreign countries ( UK , Dubai , USA etc ), where the Western countries use it to develop their societies. There is no amount of kindness that will make the UK government to return 100% of Ibori’s loot. Some charges will apply, this is in addition to the wealth it has helped the UK economy create. The multiplier effects of Ibori’s looting are enormous. One thing is sure, he has impoverished Nigerians the more, while helping create wealth in UK . Same applies to all looters who have their loots in foreign countries. Fighting Corruption: Corruption is the biggest obstacle to our progress and development. The present leadership lacks what it takes to fight corruption. It is now left for the citizens, non governmental organization, Nigerians in Diaspora and the private sector to start waging wars against corruption. High crime rates, kidnapping, unemployment, and other social vices have a direct correlation with corruption. The writer suggests a synergy between groups in Nigeria and those in overseas, example Global Witness etc. Nigerians should volunteer whatever information they have concerning a treasury looter. CBN should enforce tougher anti money laundering policies. Nigerians can use the freedom of information act in UK and elsewhere to obtain information about suspected treasury looters. Name and shame any looter. Chinedu Vincent Akuta. An Activist and Citizens Journalist. akutachinedu@yahoo.com http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com

My Appreciation To President J.J.Rawlings

His Excellency, President J. J. Rawlings, Ghana. Email: info@jjrawlings.info Thru Ghana High Commissioner in UK, 13 Belgrave Square London, SW1X 8PN. Dear Sir, My Appreciation. Please, accept my sincere appreciation of your coming to pay your last respect to, late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (Ikemba Nnewi), during the National Funeral Ceremony held on Thursday 1st March 2012, at Enugu. Watching you (JJ Rawlings) as my role model, bow before the coffin/casket of our hero (Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu) was too emotional for me. I am also sure that this singular act of yours touched many. Glad for the speech you made on that day, speaking the truth to our Nigerian “rulers” like late Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu used to do when he was alive. Without doubts, there are more in common between you and late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. Birds of the same feather flock together. Personally, I have followed your actions in and out of government and I do not hesitate to say that Ghana is lucky to have produced a person like you. Both late Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu and you, are reference points for African leaders to emulate. Sincerely Yours Chinedu Vincent Akuta UK