UNBELIEVABLE! Ohanaeze Demands ₦10 Trillion Compensation And Public Apology From Tinubu Over 1966 Coup Injustice
The apex Igbo socio- cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has called on President Bola Tinubu to issue a public apology and pay ₦10 trillion in compensation to the Igbo people for the injustices they suffered following the 1966 coup and the Nigeria- Biafra War.
This demand comes after former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, recently stated in his book, A Journey in Service, that the 1966 coup was not an Igbo coup, as widely believed. Ohanaeze Ndigbo believes this revelation corrects a long- standing historical misrepresentation that has contributed to the marginalization of the Igbo people.
The Call For Justice
In a statement released released by the Deputy National President of the Ohanaeze faction, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, emphasized that the apology and compensation were necessary due to the devastating impact of the coup and subsequent events. He noted that around three million Igbo people, mostly women and children, lost their lives during the Biafra War, and the trauma of these events still lingers.
According to Isiguzoro, Babangida’ s statement should serve as a wake- up call for Nigerians to acknowledge the deep injustices committed against the Igbo people. He urged President Tinubu to seize this moment to extend an official apology on behalf of past military regimes, especially that of General Yakubu Gowon.
Compensation And Marginalization
Ohanaeze Ndigbo insists that their demand for ₦10 trillion is not arbitrary but a symbolic recognition of the losses endured by the Igbo people. They argue that despite the end of the war decades ago, the Igbo continue to face systemic discrimination, including political exclusion and economic neglect.
The statement pointed out several issues faced by the Igbo, such as the lack of functional international airports in the Southeast, the closure of the Calabar seaport, and the implementation of discriminatory policies like the quota system, which limits opportunities for the region.
A Step Towards Reconciliation
Ohanaeze expressed gratitude to Babangida for his courage in setting the record straight about the 1966 coup. They believe that this acknowledgment is crucial for justice and reconciliation. However, they also insist that beyond words, concrete actions must be taken to address the injustices of the past.
” The time has come for true acknowledgment of these historical wrongs, which can only be rectified through both reparations and sincere apologies, ” the statement concluded.
As the debate over Nigeria’ s history continues, it remains to be seen how the federal government will respond to Ohanaeze’ s demands.
