Radio Biafra’s claim that Late Colonel Ojukwu released Chief MKO Abiola from prison appears to be unsubstantiated. According to historical records, MKO Abiola was not released from prison by Colonel Ojukwu or Major Gen. Aguniyi Ironsi.
Reno Omokri provided documentary evidence to counter the claim made by BIAFRA Radio and labelled the announcement as nothing but a “lie.”
“This is the official gazette of the Federal Military Government, which released Chief Awolowo Obafemi Awolowo and pardoned him of all crimes by the Lt. Colonel Yakubu Gowon-led Federal Military Government of Nigeria on Friday, August 12, 1966. Chief Awolowo was actually released on Tuesday, August 2, 1966. This official gazette came ten days later after he had met and negotiated with Yakubu Gowon and Murtala Muhammed.
Upon arrival in Lagos, Chief Awolowo was received by Lt. Colonel Murtala Muhammed, who drove him to Dodan Barracks to be received by the Head of State, Lt. Colonel Gowon.
They had a hard time leaving the airport because Alhaja Asabi Abibat Mogaji, the mother of Nigeria’s incumbent President, Bola Tinubu, had arranged a mammoth crowd to receive Chief Awolowo.
Chief Awolowo was not released by Lt. Colonel Emeka Ojukwu or Major General Aguiyi-Ironsi. That is a lie by Radio Biafra.
Also, after the January 15, 1966 coup, neither Majors Chukwuma Nzeogwu nor Emmanuel Ifeajuna made any attempt to free Chief Awolowo. In fact, the plotters did not make a phone call, send a signal, or send soldiers to Calabar prison.
It is possible that if Chief Awolowo had not been in prison and had instead been active in politics, he would have been killed by Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna or any of his co-plotters, he submitted.