Gowon Should Apologise to Igbo Over ‘Palm Tree’ War Comment — Onoh

Former member of the Enugu State House of Assembly and ex-South-East spokesman for President Bola Tinubu, Denge Onoh, has criticised former Head of State Yakubu Gowon over comments he made regarding civilian casualties during the Nigerian Civil War.

Onoh described Gowon’s remarks as insensitive and a dangerous attempt to downplay the scale of suffering experienced during the 1967–1970 conflict.

Gowon, during a recent interview on Arise Television, recalled visiting former Biafran territories after the war and noticing black spots on palm trees. According to him, he was told the marks were bullet holes, leading him to conclude that “most of the bullets fired by the Nigerian army hit palm trees, not people.”

Reacting in a statement issued on Sunday, Onoh rejected the claim, arguing that it contradicted historical records, eyewitness accounts and international reports documenting the devastating humanitarian crisis caused by the war.

According to Onoh, an estimated three million people lost their lives during the conflict, many due to starvation and disease linked to the federal blockade imposed on Biafra. He added that several civilians also died from bombings, military operations and reprisals carried out during the war.

“Reducing these horrors to bullets harmlessly striking palm trees does not withstand basic scrutiny,” Onoh stated.

He further accused Gowon of attempting to defend his wartime actions in his autobiography, My Life of Duty and Allegiance, saying the book failed to fully acknowledge the suffering endured by civilians, especially those in the South-East.

Despite his criticism, Onoh acknowledged Gowon’s post-war “No Victor, No Vanquished” declaration and the 3Rs policy of Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction. However, he insisted that true healing and national reconciliation could only happen if the full realities of the war were openly acknowledged.

Drawing comparisons with leaders involved in global conflicts who later expressed remorse, Onoh said Gowon owed the Igbo people a sincere apology.

“In light of this, General Gowon owes the Igbo people a simple, sincere apology for the suffering endured during the war,” he said.