Former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, has shed new light on the strained relationship between former Eastern Region Governor, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, and former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, which eventually contributed to the events leading to Nigeria’s Civil War.
The revelations are contained in Abubakar’s autobiography, Call of Duty, which was unveiled in Abuja during activities marking his 84th birthday.
According to the former military leader, Ojukwu’s refusal to recognise Gowon as Head of State stemmed largely from his insistence on adherence to military hierarchy following the assassination of Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi in the July 1966 counter-coup.
Abubakar recalled that tensions had already escalated after the January 1966 coup led by Major Kaduna Nzeogwu, during which several prominent Northern political and military leaders were killed. The aftermath, he said, fuelled resentment among Northern officers, some of whom accused the military leadership of favouring Igbo officers in promotions and appointments.
“There were complaints about the reported arrogance surrounding the killing of Northern leaders. Some Northern officers also felt that Igbos were receiving preferential treatment within the military,” he wrote.
He noted that anti-Igbo sentiments soon spread across parts of Northern Nigeria, triggering violent protests and riots in cities such as Kano, Kaduna and Jos. Many Igbos were reportedly killed, while homes and businesses belonging to them were destroyed.
The growing unrest culminated in the overthrow and assassination of Aguiyi-Ironsi by Northern officers, after which Gowon emerged as Nigeria’s new Head of State.
However, Ojukwu rejected Gowon’s appointment, arguing that Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe, then Chief of Staff of the Supreme Headquarters, was the rightful successor based on military seniority.
“Lt. Colonel Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Governor of the Eastern Region, refused to recognise the new Head of State, insisting that Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe was next in line following Aguiyi-Ironsi’s death,” Abubakar stated.
He added that Ojukwu declined to pledge loyalty to Gowon, further deepening divisions within the country. As violence intensified, thousands of Igbos fled the North and returned to the Eastern Region, while retaliatory attacks also occurred in the East.
According to Abubakar, the crisis reached a turning point on May 30, 1967, when Ojukwu declared the secession of the Eastern Region and announced the creation of the Republic of Biafra.
“Ojukwu believed the Igbo people were being victimised and marginalised within Nigeria and concluded that secession was the only solution,” he wrote.
The former Head of State said efforts to avert the breakaway, including negotiations and the famous Aburi Accord, failed to produce a lasting solution. Economic sanctions also proved ineffective, paving the way for the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War in 1967.
While Ojukwu pursued secession, Gowon remained committed to preserving Nigeria’s unity, famously declaring: “To keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done.”
Reflecting on the conflict decades later, Abubakar expressed the view that the war could have been avoided.
“To this day, I believe the Civil War could have been prevented. Rising tempers, anger and retaliatory actions left little room for dialogue, understanding and reconciliation,” he said.
He added that although the war left deep scars, it also offered important lessons on national unity and conflict resolution.
Abubakar also recounted what he described as one of the gravest tactical errors made by federal troops during the war after the capture of Awka in present-day Anambra State.
Following the fall of Onitsha in February 1968, he said military commanders mistakenly assumed victory was imminent and moved troops, vehicles and ammunition in a vulnerable formation.
Unbeknownst to them, Biafran forces launched a fierce counterattack using rockets and bombs, setting military vehicles and fuel tankers ablaze.
“It was a terrifying scene. Many soldiers lost their lives. I was fortunate to survive,” Abubakar recalled.
