A storm of reactions by Nigerians has greeted claims by a member of the United Kingdom parliament, that General Yakubu Gowon, a former Nigerian Head of State, stole half of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
NGstudents had reported that the UK parliament member made the allegation on Monday, November 23 during the House deliberation on the aftermath of the EndSARS protest, and possible sanctions to be meted on top Nigerians regarding the roles they played in the killing of unarmed protesters at the Lekki toll gate.
The parliamentarian said, “What we are seeing in Nigeria today is part of that story. It is a tragedy we are all witnessing because we see things falling apart.
“The problem this time is not foreign pressure known as colonialism. The pressure instead is corruption and violence and attempts at control (of power).
“We need to call out the corruption, we need to use the powers that we have in this country to stop those who are profiting from the wealth of that great nation and hiding it here.
“Now some people will remember when general Gowon left Nigeria, he took half of the Central Bank, so it is said, and moved to London.
“We know today, even now in this great city of ours, there are sadly some people who have taken the wealth of Nigerian people and hidden their ill-gotten gains here.
“We know that our banks sadly have been used for that profit or that illegal transfer of asset and that means that the UK is in a unique position in being able to actually do something to really exert pressure on those who have robbed Nigerians,” he opined.
Watch the video below…
So Yakubu Gowon left with half of central bank and moved to London, to do what????😱
Thank you UK Parliament for saying things we never knew about and speaking on #EndSARS
pic.twitter.com/7nGa2iS6gD— ❤️NIGERIAN💡 (@onkle_Tee) November 23, 2020
Moments after a video showing when the UK parliament member made the claim about Gowon, Nigerians took to the micro-blogging site, Twitter, to air their opinions on the matter.
Naija News captured some of the reactions below…
Meet Gen. Yakubu Gowon ,
A National Hero who Looted Half of Central Bank Nigeria (CBN) to London.Source: UK PARLIAMENTARIAN pic.twitter.com/scwrGhfWiM
— OGBUAGU (@Tony_Ogbuagu) November 23, 2020
UK parliamentarian said United Kingdom is a home for looters, he disclosed how former Nigeria head of state Yakubu Gowon stole “half of Central Bank” (Nigeria public fund) & hide it in United Kingdom.
He even accused his fellow parliamentarian of aiding & abetting looting.— Emeka Gift (@EmekaGift) November 23, 2020
Member of the UK Parliament urge the UK Govt to not only place serious sanctions on every individual that is involved in the #LekkiMassacre but to also help Nigerian people by exposing stolen national wealth hidden in UK banks by Nigerian politicians.#EndSARS
Gowon
Half of CBN— Towolawi Jamiu #EndSarsNow (@jharmo) November 23, 2020
Yakubu Gowon is not only a genocidist, he is dirty & corrupt. He ran away to the UK in 1975, with monies in the Central Bank Of Nigeria. The UK Parliament have unanimously agreed to sanction the Nigerian Government, & the Army officials who ATTACKED #EndSARS peaceful protesters. pic.twitter.com/qB2i3qqvgA
— NEFERTITI (@firstladyship) November 23, 2020
If Nigerian historians could sell this same Gowon that the UK parliament just exposed for looting half of CBN to us as a hero, I could only imagine how much they’ve twisted the civil war story
— Attah of Nigeria🇳🇬 (@Akortainment) November 23, 2020
We want to talk about Gowon but Oga said we should face our news business 🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️
— Naija (@Naija_PR) November 23, 2020
I don’t believe “Gowon stole half of CBN”. Gowon was a student in Britain around the same time as my Dad. He lived a frugal life and drove a basic car.
(I’m not a fan of Gowon, but let us put things straight. That British MP is talking nonsense).
— Onye Nkuzi (@cchukudebelu) November 23, 2020
A govt official in UK Parliament just stated today in their session that they all know that Yakubu Gowon stole half the central bank of Nigeria and took it to London.
These are the clowns we were taught in schools to see as “heroes”.
Thieves. Rogues.
The actual real hoodlums.— #OurFavOnlineDoc 🩺🇳🇬🇬🇧💎 (@DrOlufunmilayo) November 23, 2020
Did Jack (Gowon) plunder our Central Bank while in power?
It is often said he did.
Anecdotal evidence:
1) 1967 – 1970 were years of war profiteering;
2) 1973 -19975 were years of the global oil crisis. Nigeria made oil money. A lot ( in Trump’s voice)— Great Oracle (@AbdulMahmud01) November 23, 2020
So Yakubu Gowon left with half of central bank and moved to London, to do what????😱
Thank you UK Parliament for saying things we never knew about and speaking on #EndSARS
pic.twitter.com/7nGa2iS6gD— ❤️NIGERIAN💡 (@onkle_Tee) November 23, 2020
How am I just hearing this for the first time?! 😳😂.
A UK Parliament member just revealed that General Gowon, during his time, carted away with HALF OF CBN!! Bruh, HALF OF CBN 😂?!!! pic.twitter.com/cygw5XOGlh— Niklaus 🥺 (@LifeOfChika) November 23, 2020
If I win election in Canada, UK or US today, Kano will remember I was born there, Kaduna will acknowledge I spent 10 years there & built businesses. Edo will trace my lineage and hail my ancestors while Abuja will claim I lived there. Right now, I am persona non grata to them all
— Aisha Yesufu (@AishaYesufu) November 23, 2020