In a pointed reaction to General Yakubu Gowon’s recent comments on the Nigerian Civil War, political analyst and former diplomat, Ambassador Joe Keshi has cast doubt on the former Head of State’s claim that the war was not targeted at the Igbo people.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV, Keshi referenced the 1967 Asaba massacre in which hundreds of unarmed Igbo men and boys were killed by federal troops as evidence of a disconnect between Gowon and his commanders during the conflict.
“I’m not too sure that some of his generals or commanders at that time were on the same level of frequency or they understood where he was coming from,” Keshi said. “When you recall the Asaba massacre, for example, and the fact that he did nothing to the generals or officers who carried it out, not to talk of other misbehavior of the troops, you begin to wonder whether the general was laying out the facts for us to be able to understand.”
Gowon, in a recent public statement, reiterated that the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970) was aimed at preserving the unity of the country, not persecuting the Igbo ethnic group. However, Keshi’s remarks add to growing calls for a more honest reckoning with the events of the war, particularly atrocities committed by federal forces.
Historians and rights groups have long cited the Asaba massacre as one of the most brutal incidents of the war. Keshi’s comments suggest that for true reconciliation, there must be acknowledgment of these dark chapters and accountability for those involved.
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