NIGERIA: IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW GENERAL GODOWN DISCUSSES NIGERIA'S ROLE DURING AND AFTER THE CIVIL WAR.

Record ID: 1074758

  • Title: NIGERIA: IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW GENERAL GODOWN DISCUSSES NIGERIA'S ROLE DURING AND AFTER THE CIVIL WAR.
  • Date: 30th January 1970
  • Summary: GOWON RESIDENCE: GOWON WITH BABY IN ARMS: MCDERMID AND GOWON SPEAKING. (SOF) TRANSCRIPT: MCDERMID: "GENERAL GOWON HOW DO YOU FEEL IN THIS MOMENT OF TRIUMPH."? GOWON: "WELL IT'S NOT A TRIUMPH FOR ONE'S SELF. I THINK IT IS A TRIUMPH FOR REASON AND COMMON SENSE OVER MADNESS AND AMBITION. IT IS A VICTORY OVER AN IDEA OF SECESSION AND THIS TO ME IS A REAL FEELING. AND I FEEL HAPPY FOR THE INNOCENT PEOPLE THAT HAVE NOW BEEN SAVED THE TORTURE OF DEATH, STARVATION AND HUNGER BECAUSE OF ONE MAN'S INORDINATE AMBITION, ONE MAN THAT FOR NO JUST CAUSE WHATSOEVER THE WORLD SEEMED TO UPHOLD WITH SUCH FAVOUR. I DON'T KNOW WHY. BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I'M HAPPY FOR THE INNOCENT PEOPLE THAT NOW HAVE BEEN SAVED. MCDERMID: "IF YOU HAD BEEN IN OJUKWU'S SHOES HOW WOULD YOU HAVE ACTED. WOULD YOU HAVE GIVEN LONG AGO"? GOWON: "OJUWUKU WAS NOT AN HONEST MAN. IF I WERE, IF HE HAD BEEN PROPERLY EDUCATED AS A PROPER SOLDIER HE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN WHEN ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. AND I THINK OJUWUKU WAS JUST USING THE STARVATION AND HUNGER AS A POLITICAL WEAPON JUST IN ORDER TO GET POLITICAL VICTORY AND DIPLOMATIC RECOGNITION. MCDERMID: "WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THE SUDDEN COLLAPSE?" GOWON: "I KNEW THAT THE WAR WOULD FINISH SOONER OR LATER: I'VE SAID IT SEVERAL TIMES AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE EVEN MADE SOME KIND OF STATEMENT ABOUT MY HOPE THAT THE WAR WOULD END VERY SOON AND IT NEVER ENDED. THEY USED TO QUOTE ME THAT I SAID IN FACT IT WOULD END ON 31 MARCH 1969 AND THEY KNEW THE WAR WOULD NEVER FINISH AND OF COURSE THEY TRIED TO RIDICULE WHAT I SAID. OF COURSE I KNOW MY MEN; I KNOW THEIR TEMPER; I KNOW THEIR DISCIPLINE: I KNOW THEIR AFFECTIVENESS AND I KNEW THAT THEY WOULD FINISH THE WAR SOONER OR LATER. Initials KM/BPNG/PS Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 13th February 1970 13:00
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  • Location: LAGOS, NIGERIA
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Reuters ID: LVA3WPQ2SG9Q6OHM7UGIMAQAEOXG
  • Story Text:
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS - SOURCE TO BE VERIFIED
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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