Pic: Gen Yakubu Gowon (Rtd)
Former Nigerian Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, has defended his post-Civil War policies, insisting that the Igbo people were compensated for their losses after the 1967–1970 Nigerian Civil War, The Nation reports.
Speaking on issues raised in his autobiography, Gowon dismissed the long-held belief that all Igbo bank account holders were left with only £20 after the war.
According to him, the policy has been widely misunderstood and unfairly blamed on the late Obafemi Awolowo.
Gowon explained that following the war, his administration introduced a currency change because large sums of Nigerian currency had been looted from the Central Bank branches in Benin and Enugu during the conflict. As a result, the old currency ceased to be legal tender.
He maintained that individuals who could provide evidence of their pre-war bank deposits were refunded their money, including accrued interest, rejecting claims that everyone received only £20 regardless of their savings.
The former Head of State also reiterated that the Federal Government pursued a policy of “Reconciliation, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation” after the war, in line with his famous declaration of “No victor, no vanquished.”
He said efforts were made to rebuild the former Eastern Region and reintegrate its people into the Nigerian federation.
Gowon’s remarks come amid renewed public debate over the treatment of the Igbo after the Civil War, particularly the controversial £20 policy, which has remained a subject of historical and political discussion for decades.
Tags: Yakubu Gowon, Nigerian Civil War, Igbo, Post-War Reconstruction, Nigeria History
