The late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria’s first President, was content with his decision to withdraw support for the Biafran cause during the Nigerian Civil War, believing it helped prevent the total destruction of the Igbo people, his wife has revealed.
Mrs. Azikiwe disclosed that her husband often reflected on that critical decision with a sense of relief, stating that the circumstances at the time posed an existential threat to the Igbo nation.
According to her, Azikiwe believed that had he continued to back the Biafran struggle, the consequences would have been catastrophic.
She said he was convinced that no Igbo person would have been left, as the intensity of the conflict and forces aligned against Biafra could have led to their complete wipeout.
She explained that Azikiwe assessed the situation with maturity and foresight, choosing the path he felt would preserve lives rather than prolong bloodshed.
Mrs. Azikiwe emphasized that her late husband’s decision was not borne out of fear or betrayal, but from a deep concern for the survival of his people and the future of Nigeria as a whole.
