Civil War: Why Ojukwu Refused to Recognise Gowon as Head of State — Abdulsalami Abubakar

Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has provided a detailed historical account explaining why Lt. Col. Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu refused to recognise Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon as Nigeria’s Head of State in the events leading to the Nigerian Civil War.

The revelation is contained in Abubakar’s autobiography titled Call of Duty, which was presented in Abuja during his 84th birthday celebration.

According to the former military leader, the crisis stemmed from disputes over military hierarchy following the assassination of Major General Aguiyi-Ironsi in 1966. He explained that Ojukwu, then Governor of the Eastern Region, believed Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe, who was next in seniority, should have succeeded Ironsi in line with military protocol.

Abubakar recalled that the period was marked by rising ethnic tensions, especially in Northern Nigeria, where anti-Igbo sentiments triggered riots, killings, and mass displacement after the January 1966 coup and subsequent counter-coup. These events deepened mistrust and widened divisions across the country.

He noted that although Gowon emerged as Head of State, Ojukwu refused to accept his leadership, arguing that the proper chain of command had been violated. This disagreement further destabilised the fragile political environment and intensified national tensions.

The former Head of State added that several attempts were made to resolve the crisis, including the Aburi Accord, but all efforts failed to produce lasting peace. The breakdown in negotiations ultimately paved the way for the declaration of the Republic of Biafra on May 30, 1967, and the outbreak of the Civil War.

Reflecting on the conflict, Abubakar said the war could have been avoided if dialogue had been sustained and retaliatory actions curtailed. He emphasised that anger, mistrust, and political miscalculations worsened the situation at the time.

He concluded that despite the tragic consequences of the war, Nigeria survived and later achieved reconciliation, stressing the importance of unity and learning from historical mistakes.