The coastal aborigines in Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states (BRAC) have praised former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, for creating the states and saving them from the defunct Eastern Region.
They described the ex-Head of State as their hero.
BRAC said they would forever remain grateful to Gowon for carving out the BRAC states from defunct Eastern Region in line with the yearning and cries of their fathers and mothers.
According to the BRAC states, Gowon is second to the Holy Spirit, by virtue of the respect they have for him.
They said those asking the former Head of State to apologise for his role in the civil war should have a rethink.
A statement by the General Coordinator of BRAC Coastal Aborigines, Doris McDaniels, in response to calls for Gowon to apologise over his role in the civil war, reads: “It has been brought to our attention the recent insults directed at Gen. Gowon by Igbo apex groups, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
“We are deeply offended by their audacity in demanding an apology from Gen. Gowon for his divine role in leading Nigeria to a peaceful end of the war, and delivering the BRAC coastal areas and her people from the genocidal oppression of the Biafran soldiers, preventing further evacuation of the BRAC people from their ancestral homes of the oil rich coastal areas in anticipation of Biafra winning the war.”
McDaniels, who also urged the Igbo groups to address the atrocities committed by Biafran soldiers against the people of BRAC states, added: “We are now known as BRAC: Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states. We believe the people talking about Gen. Gowon are not telling the truth. They should speak the truth and hold their warlord, Col. Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, responsible for starting a spontaneous, ill-prepared war with no strategy and planning, conscripting the BRAC states into his imaginary political Biafra Republic without their permission and consent.
“The Igbo groups know this to be true, but they have chosen to spread falsehood about Gen. Gowon’s peace mission to keep Nigeria united.
“We earnestly ask Gen. Gowon to ignore and forgive the false perspective and fabricated version of the Nigerian civil war presented by the groups.
“We assure him that the people of the BRAC states know the truth and appreciate the timely intervention of his leadership and his war generals and veteran federal troops to usher in peace…”
