The Nigerian Twitter street is going after the President of African Development Bank, Akin Adesina for calling Yakubu Gowon and honest an a man of integrity. This comes a few days after a member of the British Parliament accused Yakubu Gowon of allegedly looting half of Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN) as Military Head of State.
General Yakubu Gowon was Nigeria’s Military Head of State from 1966 to 1975. He was overthrown by the late Murtala Muhammed.
While General Yakubu Gowon has kept mute to the allegation, his friends and those that have looked up to him and admired his lifestyle, have taken to their separate social media handles to defend and deny the allegations on his behalf. The latest to do this, is no other than the President of the African Development Bank, Akin Adesina.
Akin Adesina who himself was accused of being corrupt by the United States of America during the build up to his re-election at the African Development Bank, before he was cleared, and won a re-election at the bank, taking to his official Twitter handle, warned Nigerians about misinformation. He went further to state in his tweet, the qualities of General Yakubu Gowon, and how he cannot be corrupt. He had tweeted this saying:
“Be careful of misinformation! H.E. General Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria’s former Head of State, is a man of great honour, decency, honesty, amazing simplicity, humility and integrity. I know him. A great and admirable elder statesman of Nigeria. His honesty and integrity are impeccable,” he said.
Recall that we reported here how a member of the United Kingdom Parliament, Tom Tugendhat called out the former Military Head of State, and retired General, at the House. He had alleged that Gowon carted away half of CBN during his time as Nigeria’s head of State, while the debate on a petition on #EndSARS was going on.
Decrying the situation in Nigeria, the lawmaker said: “One of the great countries is, sadly, being racked by violence, and violence against young people.
He said:
“The greatest book in the English Language is Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the great Nigerian writer. The beauty of that book is the way it explains the challenge of changing generations to live together.
“The way it speaks about values falling away and the community being eroded by outside pressure. What we’re seeing in Nigeria today is part of that story.
“It’s a tragedy that we are watching, it’s a tragedy that we are all witnessing. The pressure this time is not foreign colonialism, the pressure instead is corruption and violence.
“We need to call out the corruption, we need to use the powers that we have in this country to stop those profiting from the wealth of that great nation and hiding it here.
“Some people will remember when General Gowon left Nigeria with half the Central Bank and moved to London.
“We know that today, even now, in this great city of ours, there are, sadly, some people who have taken from the Nigerian people and hidden their ill-gotten gains here.
“We know that our banks, sadly, have been used for that profit and for that illegal transfer of assets.
“And that means the UK is in an enormous unique position in being able to do
actually something to really exert pressure on those who have robbed the Nigerian people,” he had said.
The allegation when it was first reported, sparked various reactions from Nigerians on Twitter, mostly Nigerian youths.
While some Nigerians on Twitter praised the UK Parliament for exposing Yakubu Gowon, whom many thought was a saint based on how he has appeared in public since leaving office in 1975. Others while expressing shock, also doubted the allegation, saying Gowon has been an upright man and the only Nigerian leader to have left office corruption-free.
The reactions this time, is no different from the previous ones, but with most condemning Akin Adesina for supporting Gowon who is yet to speak on the issue. Here are some of the reactions so far:
Henry Shield@henryshield Replying to
@akin_adesina
I wish you hadn’t made this tweet. The General has enough resources to publicly refute the allegation and even sue the MP if he’s being accused falsely. It’s going to 72hours and not a word from him? This tweet shouldn’t come from you, sir.
DEMAGOGUE PhD.senior advocat @von_BismackReplying to
@akin_adesina
What has Gowon got on some young ones like Adesina and Kingsley Moughalu that they defend him
Uche Nnamani@Unnamani1Replying to
@akin_adesina
History was expunged from our school curriculum to cover up many fiscal and humanitarian atrocities. Please I need an answer; WHY WAS GOWON OVERTHROWN AND WHY DID HE GO ON EXILE? Last time I checked…”clear conscience fears no accusation”. Let him defend himself.
we the people!@AkpalaPeter
Replying to
@akin_adesina
It is statements like this that brought in Saint PMB. Where are we today? Inflation+ Corruption+ Highest levels of insecurity+ Poverty+ Palliatives hoarding+ Wasteful expenditures+ Huge & unnecessary borrowing etc
Jackson Ude@jacksonpbn
Replying to
@akin_adesina
Please allow Gowon to defend himself. He is alive and can simply take a flight to England and sue the MP. Face your job in ADB and don’t get yoked in a controversial matter that can taint you. Thanks!
blessing@blessin22684020
Replying to
@akin_adesina
Always quick to defend genocidal head of state but went hidden during the killings of Nigerian youth….I’m still yet to understand why karma have not visited you people.
adetunji adediwura@freddymarshal
·Replying to
@akin_adesina
Let him speak for himself, Southerners are always their mouthpieces
20:10:2020 #ENDSARS #ENDSWAT #ENDPOLICE BRUTALITY
@_zeespyce
Replying to
@akin_adesina
There’s nothing to admire about this man the fact he’s defending impunity clearly states who he’s…. I said it none of these folks in power have the interest of the common man at heart.
Hercease
@hercease
Why has the Mr integrity Gowon not come out to defend the allegations, you people don’t know what it means to be tagged along with integrity, such person must always be ready to defend all such claims, but Gowon is still quiet in the last 72hrs.