Former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon has lamented the spate of killings across the country and implored Nigerians to avoid another bloody civil war.
Gowon who was the military head of the state while the 1967-1970 civil war lasted, said he was disturbed by the activities of killer herders, Indigenous People of Buafra (IPOB), Boko Haram and other insurgent groups, describing their activities as man’s inhumanity to man.
General Gowon spoke when he paid a courtesy call on Governor Rochas Okorocha at the Government House Owerri on Saturday, saying that Nigeria needs peace so that all the people could live and work together in the interest of one another and in the overall interest of the country.
A statement from the Chief Press Secretary to Okorocha, Sam Onwuemeodo, quoted the former Head of State as saying that with prayers God could touch the hearts of all those involved in all the killings like He touched the biblical Saul and he changed to become instrument of transformation instead of destruction, adding that no situation is too difficult for God to change.
Gowon said, “After the Civil War from this town Owerri, I visited Nsukka, Enugu, Abakeliki, Umuahia, and Onitsha. We were impressed with the way the children turned out to welcome us. They were saying, you are our parents, our leaders, please do not allow any Nigerian child to suffer what we suffered.”
Explaining his mission in Imo State, Gowon said, “We are in Imo for the Nigeria Pray rally, a prayer rally we have been doing throughout the geo-political zones or states. This time it is for the South-East Zone to host the prayer rally and Imo is hosting us.”
Speaking, Governor Okorocha advised Nigerians to see the activities of groups like Boko Haram and others as national problems or challenges that required all hands to be on deck for solution. He said insecurity should not be politicized for any reason, adding that those who had lost their lives in all the attacks were people of all ethnic groups, religions and perhaps political groups.
