By Don Peter Okoro JP-UN
Chairman Emeritus Police Service Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Dr Simon Okeke OON OFR (Ochendo) has sensationally posited that unless and until an Igbo man emerges as the President of Nigeria, it should be assumed that the Nigeria–Biafra war is yet to come to an end.
He made this clear during a chat with Selected Pressmen at his Akatar Lodge, Amichi, Nnewi South LGA, residence in the aftermath of his 90th Birthday Ceremony which took place on Wednesday the 7th of January 2026 amidst pomp and pageantry. In the course of the interaction, he was asked to give a panacea to the country’s multifarious challenges and he went down memory lane.
In his words:”” When there was a coup on the 15th of January 1966, they said it was an Igbo coup. From that day, the rest of the country, especially the North decided to start killing the Igboman wherever they are.
There was a pogrom in May 1966 and on the 29th of July 1966, there was a counter coup which claimed the life of Major General Aguiyi Ironsi and the slaughtering of thousands of Igbo.
Then on the 30th of September 1966, the second pogrom where every living Igboman in the North was practically killed except those that were not seen.”Continuing, he revealed:”
There was a Conference in Aburi to decide on how to live together peacefully and an Agreement was reached between the Government of Gowon and that of Ojukwu.
The Agreement was written and read to the hearing of everyone there and they all consented. It was translated into the major languages and everybody agreed.
Coming to Nigeria with the purpose of implementing the Agreement became a problem. Gowon later said that he had malaria as at the time the Agreement was made.
So the determination to exterminate the Igbos continued, leading to the firing of the first shot at Gakem and the war started.
They ganged up with some foreign countries including Russia, Egypt, Britain and others to fight against small Biafra. We prayed and depended on God for our cause. Ojukwu did wonders.”
Ochendo Amichi further revealed:”” Chief Awolowo who had earlier stated that if Ojukwu declared Biafra, they would declare Oduduwa later became Gowon’s second in command and Minister For Finance and he declared total blockade of Biafra.
It was by sheer ingenuity of our people through the Research And Production (RAP) that we were able to sustain the war. I was 32 years old then and I took part in the war.
Ojukwu appointed me as the Head of the Military Intelligence of the 11th Division of the Army under Brigadier Amadi. It was through my Intelligence efforts that we were able to stop them from entering Nnewi through Onitsha and Asaba.
It was hunger and starvation that led to the collapse of Biafra At the end of the day, they said we had to come back to Nigeria and we did. Again they said “” No Victor No Vanquished. “” They talked about 3 Rs Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reintegration, but till date, non has been implemented and they made it a Rule an Unwritten Law that no person from Biafra- Land will ever be Head of the Army, Police, Air Force or Navy.
I’m the one that broke that of the Police when I got Chief Obasanjo to permit the having of 6 DIGs, instead of 1. That is why up till today, every zone must have a DIG. With this arrangement, people like Mike Okiro, Ogbonannya Onovo were able to emerge as Inspectors General of Police.
So, until an Igbo man becomes the President of this country, Nigeria is yet to be one. We are looking forward to Mr. Peter Obi. And I’m working towards it. If Peter Obi does not become the President in the next election, one day, he will. I know it’s not going to be easy because the President has used all the Presidential paraphernalia to lock up everywhere.””