Nigerian Civil War: I will reveal my side of the story in 2017 – Gowon

Sen. Shehu Sani, the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, has urged former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd) to author a book on the Nigerian Civil War. Sani, who led a delegation of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) on a visit to the former head of state in Abuja on Wednesday, said the book would tell Gowon’s side of the story.

Gen Yakubu Gowon

According to the lawmaker, it has become expedient for the 82 year old former head of state to tell Nigerians what actually transpired in view of the numerous versions written by many authors. He said the history of Nigeria would not be complete if Nigerians did not get his side of the story.

He added that it was important for the former head of state to author such a book having played a major role in uniting the country in the after the war. “Your silence to us is full of content. Perhaps, if you go without writing your own side of the story you will be indebted to the future generation of Nigeria.

“ I wonder what goes through your mind when you go read what people write about the civil war.

“I am here to protest your refusal to write a book on the civil war under moral gunpoint. “Perhaps there are things you are avoiding – things you think are explosive; but Nigerians deserve to be told the truth.

“Truth hurts, but it heals. “You must write a book for us to know what we passed through before getting here. “Every Nigerian – dead and alive – appreciates your role,’’ he said.

The lawmaker further said that authoring a book like that would afford Nigerians, who were not conscious during the war, the opportunity to know what actually happened.

Responding, Gowon said he was already working on his autobiography and promised to publish it in 2017. “Thank you for coming to make a request for me to tell my story – a story you have not heard from me personally. “When I read what people were saying after my overthrow, I said I would not trust any journalist. “I am working on my autobiography. “It should have come out in 1980, but within the next year, something will come,’’ he assured. (NAN)