Civil War: Why Ojukwu Refused to Recognize Gowon as Head of State – Abubakar

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru, ABUJA

Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, explained the root of the conflict between the former governor of the Eastern Region, Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, and the then Head of State, Yakubu Gowon.

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The explanation appears in General Abubakar’s autobiography, “Call of Duty,” which was unveiled on his 84th birthday in Abuja over the weekend.

In the book, Abubakar recounts how Ojukwu, then governor of the Eastern Region, demanded that military protocol dictate the selection of Aguiyi Ironsi’s successor after Ironsi was killed by Northern officers in retaliation for the January 1966 coup that had seen prominent Northern leaders murdered.

Abubakar reflected on the ethnic tensions that followed: “There were complaints about the perceived arrogance in the killing of the northern leaders. Some Northern officers also complained that Igbos were being promoted above others in the military.”

“Anti‑Igbo sentiment erupted in the North, leading to protests against Aguiyi‑Ironsi in places such as Kano, Kaduna and Jos. Riots broke out and Igbos were targeted and killed, with their properties set on fire in Kano, Sokoto and Kaduna. It was a disturbing period for young, passionate Nigerians like me.”

“Some senior Northern officers overthrew and killed Aguiyi‑Ironsi. Lt. Colonel Yakubu Gowon became the new head of state, but the crisis was only intensifying.”

“Lt. Colonel Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the Governor of the Eastern Region, refused to recognise the new head of state, insisting that in the absence or death of Aguiyi‑Ironsi, the next in command was Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe, the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters.”

“Ojukwu refused to pledge loyalty to Gowon. Tensions were building across the nation. Communal and ethnic clashes continued. Killings did not stop in the North and Igbos were being evacuated and returned to the East. Revenge killings also took place in the East.”

Declaration of Biafra

“On 30 May 1967, Ojukwu announced that Igbos would leave Nigeria for good to form their own country. He felt they were being victimised and marginalised in Nigeria and that the only solution was to secede. He declared the Republic of Biafra.”

“All efforts to prevent secession failed. Meetings and agreements, including the famous Aburi Accord, did not serve any useful purpose. A political solution was not looking likely. Economic sanctions also failed. We eventually went to war in 1967. Gowon insisted on one indivisible country. His famous mantra was: ‘To keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done.’ His name became an acronym: Go On With One Nigeria, GOWON.”

Civil war could have been prevented

“To this day, I believe that the Civil War, like most other conflicts in life, could have been prevented. I feel that rising tempers, anger, and the cycle of retaliations didn’t leave room for understanding and reconciliation.”

“There was one side wanting to break away and the other insisting on maintaining the unity and sovereign integrity of the country. A lot of argument has been made about the fact that our leaders were very young and hot‑blooded. Whatever the case, I want to believe we learned valuable lessons from the war.”

“I want to hedge a bet that we would never go to war again. We have a bitter experience to learn from. I would also say we were lucky as a country to survive the war. We were able to reconcile and make peace. Those who felt they were being marginalised eventually returned to the fold.”

General Abubakar recalled what he described as the costliest mistake made by Nigerian troops that claimed some lives after capturing Awka in Anambra State.

“Capturing Awka in present‑day Anambra State was one of the toughest battles we fought. It was also the one in which we made the costliest mistakes.”

“When we captured Onitsha in February 1968, Colonel Muhammed, our division commander, felt we were done and dusted.”

“He believed victory was already assured. Believing the war was over, he lined up vehicles and asked us to move with all our troops and ammunition. It was a tactical miscalculation. Indeed, it was an error. We didn’t know the Biafrans had other plans, attacking us with rocket fire and bombs. Our vehicles caught fire.”

“The tankers supplying us with fuel for our operational vehicles also exploded. It was a most terrifying scene. Many soldiers died. I was lucky to escape.”

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