Citizens of Nigeria: it is with a heart full of gratitude to God that I announce to you that today, the 15th of January 1970, marks the formal end of the Nigerian civil war.
The so-called 'Rising Sun of Biafra' is set forever. It will be a great disservice for anyone to continue to use a word which has caused us so much pain and suffering.
We have all reaffirmed our faith in one Nigeria. We have today reached one of the greatest moments in the history of our nation. There is no question of a 'general' or 'wholesale' victors and vanquished — we are all Nigerians and there must be no victor, no vanquished.