Buba Galadima, a chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has cited the post-Civil War reintegration of the late Biafran leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, as an example of why Nigerians should embrace reconciliation and move beyond the divisions of the past.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Thursday, July 16, 2026, Galadima said the country cannot continue to be held back by historical grievances if it hopes to build a more united future.
The NDC chieftain made the remarks while defending the proposed Obi-Kwankwaso alliance and responding to critics who continue to view national politics through the lens of the 1966 coups and the Nigerian Civil War.
According to Galadima, many of those participating in today’s political debates were not directly involved in the events that led to the civil war and should instead focus on promoting national healing and reconciliation.
He pointed to Ojukwu’s return from exile as evidence that Nigeria had previously chosen the path of forgiveness despite the devastating consequences of the conflict.
“Odumegwu Ojukwu—his actions caused the death of his own people and other people, but he was forgiven and pardoned, and came back to Nigeria and participated in the electoral process of forming a government,” Galadima said.
Galadima argued that if Nigeria could pardon and reintegrate a central figure in the civil war, there is little justification for allowing decades-old events to continue shaping present-day political relationships.
He maintained that the country must move beyond ethnic suspicion and historical resentment, stressing that national unity can only be achieved through dialogue, forgiveness, and cooperation among all regions.
Galadima added that his party’s vision is centred on healing old wounds and strengthening ties between Northern Nigeria and the South-East, insisting that lasting peace and national development require Nigerians to look beyond the divisions of the past and work together toward a common future.
