“Ojukwu used to say, ‘On Aburi we stand’ and I would say, ‘From Aburi you will fall ” According to Yakubu Gowon

In an interview with Daily Trust, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), a former military head of state, discussed his experiences in office, the events leading up to and during the civil war, and his continued support for a united Nigeria.When he was told to give an account of what transpired between him and Ojukwu in Aburi, Ghana, Yakubu Gowon said, “Well, Ojukwu used to say, “On Aburi we stand” and I would say, “From Aburi you will fall.”CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>

He said the Aburi meeting was aimed at resolving the problems after the January 15 coup in Nigeria, as they were supposed to go to Ibadan the next day, but he attended a reception for officers at their brigade instead, and that same night, he was already at Ikeja when there was sudden commotion, and movement of troops and vehicles. He was confused about what was happening because he was supposed to take command of a battalion the next morning. He asked the unit’s adjutant, Captain Martin Ademo what the commotion was all about but Captain Martin didn’t answer him.

Later, General Aguiyi Ironsi, who was the General Officer Commanding (GOC), came and told them that there was some crisis in town affecting the prime minister, Tafawa Balewa and Okotie Eboh, the finance minister. He claimed by the time they were informed, all the senior officers from his school —Maimalari, Kur Mohammed, Abo Baladinma, Yakubu Pam – had been killed. One of his good friends, Arthur Unegbe, from Ozobulu was also killed but he did not know.

At a certain point, the military couldn’t fix the situation. They tried to meet within the country, but Ojukwu expressed concerns about his safety. He suggested meeting in the East or the Mid-west, which was seen as neutral, since the conflict seemed to be between the North and the East. There were even plans for them to meet on a British Airways plane or on a British naval ship. Despite all these efforts by both Nigerians and the British, they eventually agreed to meet in Aburi, Ghana where the problem started.

They went to the meeting in early January, and he thought it was just for them, as military officers, to come to an agreement. Gowon didn’t go with any government officials or advisers but Ojukwu had a different plan. He brought advisers and a memorandum, like a prepared solution to the problem, which felt like a classroom exercise.

Ojukwu read from his paper the conditions he wanted. They discussed for two days, and the agreement was that he (Gowon) would make a statement on what they agreed upon when they returned to Nigeria. However, he fell sick as soon as they came back to Nigeria and he could not give the statement as agreed.

Ojukwu, on the other hand, made a statement right after returning, saying they already agreed to separate. Gowon alleged it was Ojukwu’s statement that started confusion, as they never had such agreement.

Further talking, he said, “I don’t know what version you heard, but in the end, we had to meet in Benin, me and all the governors at the time to discuss the Aburi agreement and put it in the true context. We invited Ojukwu to be there but he did not come.”

“The only thing I included, which probably made him not to accept it, was that there was no chance for any part of the country to secede without the agreement of two-third of the members of the group. But as soon as we left, Ejoor told me that Ojukwu came to find out what it was.”CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>