The former Nigerian military leader, General Yakubu Gowon, voiced his approval of the late President Shehu Shagari’s choice to pardon Emeka Ojukwu, who led the Biafra movement during the civil war and had been accused of treason for taking up arms against the Nigerian state.
Gowon recognized that Ojukwu’s pardon was an important gesture given the sensitive history and the charges brought against him.
In an interview broadcasted by ESET TV, Gowon revealed that Shagari had also offered him a pardon after he was implicated in the conspiracy related to the killing of General Murtala Mohammed and subsequently charged with treason.…CONTINUE READING
Gowon, however, refused the pardon because he did not want to give the impression of guilt.
He explained that within the Nigerian context, accepting a pardon is often interpreted as an admission of wrongdoing, and since he believed he was innocent, he chose not to accept it.
He explained his stance by saying, “I told President Shagari it was fine to pardon Ojukwu because we had charged him with treason for fighting Nigeria. I also mentioned that such a pardon could benefit his political campaign.” Gowon’s comments reflect his nuanced understanding of justice, political symbolism, and the delicate process of healing national wounds after a civil conflict.
