… Says Ojukwu’s Insistence On Govs To Control Military Zones, Caused Aburi Accord Collapse
Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd.), has declared that Nigeria, despite its current challenges, is in a much better state than it was during the civil war which ravaged the country over five decades ago.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with ARISE News on Wednesday, Gowon maintained that the progress recorded across various sectors since the 1967–1970 conflict is evidence that the nation has continued to survive and grow.
“Well, thriving… isn’t Nigeria thriving today? Have we not gone beyond what we were 55 years ago?” Gowon queried during the interview.
He emphasized that although the country may not have reached a state of perfection, it has achieved considerable strides in development and national cohesion.
“Certainly, I did not mean that things will be absolutely perfect… but at least, we have survived as a country, improving at every stage to where we are,” he said.
Gowon, who led Nigeria through the Biafran War, reiterated his post-war reconciliation stance of “no victor, no vanquished,” insisting that it was essential to foster unity and national healing.
He pointed to progress in the Eastern region — a territory heavily devastated during the war — as a sign that national recovery has not left any region behind.
“There is great progress happening in the East. I certainly did not try to stop development. Things are improving as time goes on,” he said.
Why Aburi Accord Collapsed — Gowon
The former military leader opened up on the collapse of the 1967 Aburi Accord, blaming it on what he described as unilateral interpretations and unrealistic demands by then Eastern Region military governor, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.
Gowon explained that while the Aburi meeting — which took place from January 4 to 5, 1967, in Ghana — aimed to resolve Nigeria’s growing political crisis, its outcome became a source of dispute upon return.
He said, “We just went there (Aburi), as far as we were concerned, to meet as officers and then agree to get back home and resolve the problem at home.That was my understanding. But that was not his (Ojukwu’s) understanding.”
Gowon also claimed he was seriously ill upon returning to Nigeria and was unable to immediately take action, allowing Ojukwu to make premature public declarations about the agreement.
“I was having a serious attack of some kind of fever or whatever it was, and I could not make a decision when we arrived home. It was Ojukwu who made some statements about the Aburi accord,” he stated.
According to Gowon, one of the main sticking points was Ojukwu’s insistence that military zones across the country be controlled by the respective regional governors — a proposition rejected by the federal delegation.
“For example, to give one of the major issues, we said that the military would be zoned, but the control… he wanted those zones to be commanded by the governor.
“When you have a military zone in the North, it would be commanded by the governor of the North.
“The military zone in the East would be commanded by him. Of course, we did not agree with that one,” Gowon said.
He revealed that a follow-up meeting was scheduled to hold in Benin City to clarify and ratify the resolutions, but Ojukwu declined the invitation, citing security concerns.
Gowon served as Nigeria’s Head of State from 1966 until 1975 when he was removed in a bloodless coup.
Ojukwu, on the other hand, governed the Eastern Region and later led the secessionist state of Biafra during the civil war.
The failure of the Aburi Accord is widely regarded as a key factor that triggered the 30-month war, which claimed over a million lives and reshaped Nigeria’s political trajectory.
'
'
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
