Gowon’s Latest Revisionism Exposed: Ojukwu Did Not Frustrate Peace - You Did, By Betraying Aburi Accord
In his newly launched autobiography My Life of Service and Allegiance, former Head of State Yakubu Gowon has once again attempted to rewrite history by accusing the late Biafran leader, Lt. Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, of “frustrating all peace moves” and single handedly derailing efforts to avert the Nigerian Civil War.
This claim is not only false it is a shameless distortion of documented facts, coming from the very man who personally signed the Aburi Accord and later tore it apart under pressure from Lagos civil servants and northern hardliners.
Ojukwu’s Own Words Destroy Gowon’s Narrative
In a detailed, firsthand account, Ojukwu made it crystal clear that “Aburi was a complete success” until Gowon returned to Lagos and reneged on everything agreed upon.
“Our case was so clear, so straightforward, that there really was not much room for any doubt or confusion at all,” Ojukwu stated. The meeting in Aburi, Ghana, in January 1967 was not a failure of negotiation. It was a triumph of consensus among military colleagues. All parties, including Gowon fully negotiated, drafted, and agreed on the resolutions. Transcripts and audio tapes exist to this day as irrefutable evidence. Ojukwu even reviewed fresh copies of the records shortly before giving the interview.
The Spirit of Brotherhood at Aburi
Far from the tension Gowon now tries to portray, the conference ended on an extraordinarily warm and hopeful note. Ghana’s General Joseph Ankrah was so impressed that he personally drove both Gowon and Ojukwu to the airport. In a moving gesture aboard the car, Ojukwu took Gowon’s hand, placed it on Ankrah’s lap, covered it with his own, and asked Ankrah to “hold us together.”
Ojukwu then gave this solemn assurance:
“General, I am genuinely and totally satisfied with everything we said… Once we have fully and successfully implemented this, I would like to ask you for just one favour… for you to be the one who proposes Jack Gowon as the Head of State of Nigeria.”
This was not the action of a man frustrating peace. This was a leader extending trust and brotherhood.
Concrete Agreements Reached, Then Abandoned by Gowon
At Aburi, they unanimously agreed on:
Establishment of “Area Commands” for the Armed Forces
Decentralization of the “Police Force”
A new “revenue sharing formula”
Regional control over internal affairs
“Concurrence of every region” required for national decisions
Change of Gowon’s title from Supreme Commander to “Commander-in-Chief”
Ojukwu emphatically rejected the confederation label thrust upon him:
“Everybody talks about confederation. Go and look at the transcript. There is no time that the word confederation came from my lips.”
Yet upon returning to Lagos, Gowon influenced by “some ambassadors” and federal permanent secretaries, began denying the agreement. The same man who shook hands and smiled at Aburi suddenly claimed the deal was misunderstood.
Who Truly Frustrated Peace?
Ojukwu returned to Enugu and threw a celebration, believing the crisis was over.
Gowon returned to Lagos and allowed the agreement to be shredded.
When the denials began, Ojukwu released the “Aburi tapes” publicly so Nigerians could judge for themselves.
Gowon’s regime proceeded with Decree No. 8, which many saw as a watered-down betrayal of the full spirit of Aburi.
The historical record is devastatingly clear: Gowon signed it. Gowon killed it.
Enough of the Blame Game
For over five decades, Gowon has tried to shift responsibility for the war that claimed millions of lives mostly Igbo civilians onto Ojukwu. His new book is simply the latest chapter in this tiresome revisionism.
Ojukwu did not start the war. The pogroms against Easterners did not start with Ojukwu. The refusal to honour a solemnly reached agreement did not start with Ojukwu.
It was Gowon who had the power to implement Aburi and chose not to.
While Nigeria is still struggling with the same fundamental issues of true federalism, regional autonomy, and restructuring, issues that were already solved at Aburi in 1967, Gowon’s book brings no message of unity. It only exposes once again the original betrayal: the monumental failure of honesty and leadership from the very top.
The tapes are still available.
The transcripts are still there.
History cannot be rewritten with a book launch.
On Aburi we still stand.
The truth remains unchanged.
Family Writers Press International.
Over the past few days, allegations have rocked the Senate, questioning the very integrity of the 2024 Appropriation Act, the cornerstone of our nation's annual planning and development.
A fiscal policy analytics and advocacy organization has unequivocally confirmed a disturbing lack of transparency within the 2024 Appropriation Act.
Furthermore, the sudden suspension of the whistle-blower Senator, without adequate explanation, has only fueled the crisis, leaving us with more questions than answers.
I demand an immediate and thorough investigation into these allegations. Appropriation lies at the heart of governance, and any deviation from serving the people's interests will be met with fierce opposition.
Denials are unacceptable, and the suspension of one senator cannot silence accusations of corruption and illegal fiscal spending by the federal government.
Without a clear explanation to the people of Nigeria, we must treat these allegations for what they are: outright fraud.
The accusation of budget padding totaling N3 trillion cannot be dismissed lightly by the government.
Given the current hardships facing our nation, a padded budget is already translating to a padded hunger, padded poverty, padded insecurity, padded energy crises, padded forex instability, and the soaring cost of living.
The people of Nigeria cannot afford to ignore allegations that worsen our already dire economic situation.
The current federal government has a disgraceful track record of ignoring issues of transparency and due process in public administration.
The unresolved $3.3 billion NNPCL loan repayment scandal, with Nigeria now expected to repay $12 billion, remains a glaring example.
The Tinubu administration must address these high-profile corruption cases transparently.
The National Assembly, as the elected representatives of the people, are constitutionally obligated to legislate for the peace, order, and good governance of our nation, without colluding with corrupt elements.
Failure to do so and persisting in denial will only confirm the government's complicity in official malpractice.-AA
@Ahmedmusa718 Very well spoken. Congratulations 🎈🎉🎊 to the team and us as their home country. May we experience and exercise this same type of unity as Nigerian’s especially our leaders
YOUR VICTORY IS ASSURED
“I have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of me. While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world.”
John 16:33 CEV
This is Ur assurance of victory over all challenges