`October 1970.

Footage of Major General Yakubu Gowon, the Head of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria, telling a press conference to "forget" about Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, the former Nigerian Army Lt. Colonel who led the secessionist state of Biafra during the civil war which lasted from 1967 to 1970.

Gowon was stating that Nigeria was reconciled with those African states who broke ranks with the Organisation of African Unity. Zambia, Tanzania, Ivory Coast and Gabon Zambia and Tanzania were the 4 African nation states which recognised the secessionist Republic of Biafra. Prior to the OAU conference ofSeptember 1970 which was held in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian emperor, Haile Selassie announced the "total reconciliation" between Nigeria and all Biafra's supporters.

Gowon's comments:

"We have never given Ojukwu's position any importance and I don't want to waste my time on Ojukwu, or what Ojukwu stands for. Shall we forget about Ojukwu. His conscience would be pricking him wherever he goes and I doubt if Ojukwu would be able to enjoy the rest of his life on this earth after what he has done. And whoever has given him material support for what he did. Let us let us not waste our time with Ojukwu. As far as I'm concerned we have reconciled with these countries and we shall stick to this true and sincere conciliation, so let us not waste our time on Ojukwu please ... As far as I'm concerned, as I've always said we did not hurt anyone and we tried not to hurt anyone whatsoever. Those who hurt us, it is for them to be able to re-examine themselves so that their new spirit towards us is true and sincere, and is truly meaningful. Let them therefore, as I said, it is for them to examine themselves so that their new attitude towards Nigeria is really true and correct one. Then they can find us willing to co-operate and world together in the interests of both our countries, and in the interests of mankind in general."

Source: Private Collection.

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