Former Senate Minority Leader Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia Central) has urged former Military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), to write his book and document his first-hand account of the 1966 coup, labelled an ‘Igbo coup’.

Abaribe issued this challenge, yesterday, while addressing the press ahead of his 70th birthday celebration this weekend. He was responding to questions regarding the controversy sparked by the memoir of former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) launched recently.

Relatedly, Islamic human rights organisation, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), lauded human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), for mobilising a team of lawyers in preparation for taking legal action against Babangida, who admitted in his memoir that Moshood Abiola won the June 12, 1993, presidential election.

Abaribe also expressed shock that Justice Binta Nyako, despite previously recusing herself from the Nnamdi Kanu case, resumed jurisdiction over the trial of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader. He renewed his call for a political solution to Kanu’s case, arguing that his release would restore peace in the South-East region.

The Abia State senator criticised some claims in Babangida’s book, particularly those attempting to exonerate himself from controversial decisions made under his regime.

The former deputy governor of Abia insisted that branding the 1966 military putsch as an ‘Igbo coup’ was a deliberate attempt to blackmail Igbo people.
“Throughout Nigeria’s history, whenever anything happens, they always use the Igbo head to break the coconut,” Abaribe lamented, emphasising the need for a just and united Nigeria, where all ethnic groups are treated fairly, and urged Gowon to provide a more accurate historical account of the events leading to and during the Nigerian Civil War.

“We are still waiting for Gowon’s book because he was a central figure in the events of that time. He has crucial information that Nigerians need,” Abaribe stated.

As part of his 70th birthday celebrations, Abaribe announced that he would be launching his own book on Saturday at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Umuahia. He urged President Bola Tinubu to address injustices against Ndigbo and ensure the South-East got its fair share in national governance.

MURIC, in a release, yesterday, also backed calls for the post-humous declaration of Abiola as President.

The statement issued by the Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, reads: “Popular human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, recently vowed to mobilise a team of lawyers in preparation for taking legal action against Babangida, for annulling the June 12, 1993, presidential election.

“IBB recently admitted that Abiola won the June 12, 1993, presidential election. He also published its detailed results, though the announcement was stopped by a midnight court injunction secured by Arthur Nzeribe of the Association for Better Nigeria.

“Falana deserves kudos for showing interest in taking IBB to court over the annulment. Of course, it is only natural because Falana was also in the forefront of the June 12 struggle in the 90s. We call on all progressive lawyers to rally round him in this onerous task. We charge all human rights activists and the rest of Nigerians to support Falana in his bid to ensure that justice is done.”