Ojukwu Could Have Averted Civil War Bloodshed, Says Danjuma

Jaiyeola Andrews Former Minister of Defence, General T.Y. Danjuma (rtd), yesterday said the bloodshed recorded in the country during the civil war could have been averted, but for the recalcitrance of the late defunct Biafran warlord, Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu.

Danjuma, while addressing journalists after a closed-door meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at his residence in Abuja, said had Ojukwu surrendered to the federal troops after the fall of Enugu, the bloodshed that followed would have been averted.

The former minister however commended the President Jonathan for conceding defeat to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.

“If he (Ojukwu) had conceded victory to the federal troops, he would have saved the nation one full year of bloodshed.

“The outcome of the election and the manner in which President Jonathan conceded victory to Buhari, is totally un-African. It is very important in the history of Africa.

“President Jonathan has set a history, a record, as something to be emulated by Africa and indeed the whole world. Its an excellent thing he did” Danjuma said.

Jonathan had been having consultations with prominent leaders in the country ahead of his handover ceremony to the president-elect by May 29.

He met with Buhari last Friday behind closed doors. Justice Mohammed Yunusa of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday dismissed a suit seeking to stop the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, Akinwunmi Ambode, from contesting the April 11 poll.

The judge declared that the plaintiffs had no locus standi to institute the action.

The judge also held that the plaintiffs failed to establish any reasonable cause of action to sustain their prayers.

“None of the plaintiffs in the instant suit is an aspirant to be conferred with locus standi,” Yunusa held as he dismissed the suit.

The plaintiffs, Olorunfemi Oluwatosin and Dada Joseph, who are members of the APC, had approached the court seeking