Buhari Reflects On Civil War, ‘We Fought Biafrans As Our Brothers’

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, reflected on his days during the Civil War between the Nigerian government and the secessionist state of Biafra.

Buhari described as “nostalgic”, the experience of the Biafra war, noting particularly the performance of the then Commander-in-Chief, General Yakubu Gowon, and how they were instructed not to fight Biafran fighters as their enemies.

Advertisement

The president reminisced on the Civil War experience at the Aso Rock Villa during his induction as Grand Patron of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) when Gowon led members of the organisation to the Presidential Villa.

President Buhari thanked Gowon for the honour and pledged to assist the organisation secure permanent office accommodation in Abuja.

He said, “Earlier in my profession, during the civil war, I know how much sacrifice members of the Nigerian Red Cross and their international counterparts did both in the real front of operations and at the rear, on both sides. I think it is a lot of sacrifices because anything can happen to you in the operational areas.

“The risks they faced were real and I admire their courage and commitment to helping people who were in distress and were virtually in millions. Those photographs of people from the Biafra enclave spoke a lot.

Advertisement

“I remember with nostalgia the performance of the Commander-in-Chief, General Gowon. Every commander was given a copy of the Commander-in-Chief’s instructions that we were not fighting enemies but that we were fighting our brothers. And thus, people were constrained to show a lot of restraint.

“The international observer teams were allowed to go as far as possible within and outside the front and I think this was generous and very considerate of General Gowon. He is a highly committed Nigerian.”

Speaking on his pledge to help the Red Cross get a permanent office accommodation in the federal capital, Buhari said, “I have taken note of your logistics especially your(request for) office here.

“I assure you that the government will do its best when you decide to build such facilities in terms of securing an area here within the Federal Capital Territory and we hope you will not do the Nigerian ways of doing things.

“To use the words of famous Nigerian Minister `I hope you will not build an elephantine headquarters’ which is going to be functional because we have seen your activities throughout the country,” he said.

Advertisement

On his part, the National President of the NRCS, Chief Bolaji Anani, said at least 800,000 trained volunteers of the organisation are scattered across 774 local government areas of the federation.

Anani urged President Buhari to in addition to the office accommodation assent to the Bill amending the Red cross Act of 1960 when it is eventually passed by the National Assembly.

“A review is long overdue. We note with pleasure that the current National Assembly is in the process of doing that. In fact, the revision has already undergone public hearing.

“We hope when the revised Bill is passed by the national assembly it will be to begraciously assented to by Mr President,” he said.

Leave a comment

Advertisement