Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe representing Abia central district, has told former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, that Nigerians are eagerly awaiting the release of his own book to correct the wrong narratives about the 1966 coup.
This is as he insisted that it was never an Igbo coup contrary to blackmails being peddled by Igbo haters.
Senator Abaribe spoke during a press conference in Aba to herald his 70th birthday ceremony slated for March 1st at the International Conference Centre, ICC, Umuahia.
Reacting to the controversy trailing the recent book launched by former Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Abaribe said Gen. Gowon needed to open up about all he knew about the coup and the civil war itself.
Faulting the attempts by Babangida to claim innocence in some of the actions taken under his watch especially the annulment of June 12 election, Abaribe wondered if another person was calling the shots for the former Military Head of State.
Challenging Gowon to help put the records straight, Abaribe protested against blackmailing Igbo with the coup.
“Throughout the history of Nigeria they will always use the Igbo head to break the coconut if anything happens,” Abaribe lamented.
He said: “We are still waiting for that book by General Gowon because he was a dramatis personae and part of the mis-steps and mistakes that were done at that time.”
Senator Abaribe who thanked God for preserving him to reach the golden age of 70, hinted that he would be also launching his own book during the ceremony scheduled for Saturday at the International Conference Centre, ICC, Umuahia.
Abaribe expressed surprise that Justice Binta Nyako’s resumption of jurisdiction over Nnamdi Kanu’s trial, burying her interest in the matter.
He urged President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to adopt political option in resolving Kanu’s matter in the interest of national unity.
Abaribe who regretted that criminal elements had used Kanu’s continued incarceration as reasons to unleash mayhem in the South-East.
He further regretted that despite his agitations for inclusion of South-East in the scheme of things, the zone has been grossly marginalised by the Federal Government.
He advocated inclusion of South-East in the scheme of affairs to give the zone a sense of belonging.
Abaribe regretted that Nigeria had not recorded much progress because of what he called “sacrificing merit for parochial interest, ethnic and nepotistic considerations.”
He warned that unless Nigeria focuses on building a merit-based society, the much expected development would remain elusive.
Abaribe called on Ndigbo to unite for the development of Igboland while applauding the developmental strides of Governors Alex Otti of Abia State; Peter Mbah of Enugu; and Charles Soludo of Anambra State.
