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Secrets Unveiled: Gowon Blames Hidden Forces for Aburi Accord Breakdown

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Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, on Wednesday shed light on the reasons behind the collapse of the Aburi Accord — a peace agreement aimed at preventing the outbreak of the 1966 Nigerian Civil War.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, has provided fresh insight into why the Aburi Accord—a peace agreement aimed at preventing the outbreak of the 1967 Nigerian Civil War—ultimately collapsed.

Speaking in a televised interview, Gowon revealed that the late Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, then Military Governor of Eastern Nigeria, insisted that regional governors should have direct control over military zones—an idea the Federal Government could not accept.

Gowon, who served as Nigeria’s military leader from 1966 until his ouster in 1975 by Brigadier General Murtala Mohammed, recalled that the Aburi meeting, held from January 4–5, 1967, in Ghana, was intended as a platform for both the Federal Government and Eastern Region delegates to chart a course toward peace.

“The goal, from our side, was to return home and resolve the crisis internally,” Gowon said. “Unfortunately, that wasn’t how Ojukwu interpreted the outcome.”

He added that shortly after returning from Aburi, he fell seriously ill and was unable to immediately engage with the resolutions. During that period, Ojukwu allegedly made unauthorized public statements about the accord.

“I don’t know where Ojukwu got his version from. He arrived at the meeting with prepared demands. We agreed on some issues and disagreed on others,” Gowon said.

He specifically cited a contentious proposal: “He wanted each military zone to be controlled by the regional governor—meaning he would command the Eastern zone, while Northern and other zones would be under their respective governors. That was unacceptable to us.”

To clarify the contentious issues, a follow-up meeting was scheduled for Benin City. However, Ojukwu declined the invitation, citing safety concerns. The inability to reach a consensus and the breakdown in communication eventually led to the outbreak of civil war on July 6, 1967. The conflict lasted until January 15, 1970.

Despite the war’s devastation, Gowon expressed optimism about Nigeria’s journey since. “Isn’t Nigeria thriving today?” he asked rhetorically. “We’ve gone far beyond where we were 55 years ago. Things aren’t perfect, but the country is surviving and improving.”

He reflected on the Eastern region’s development post-war, reaffirming that he never hindered progress there. “There’s significant growth in the East. We focused on reconstruction, not revenge,” he said, referencing his famous “no victor, no vanquished” declaration.

On the use of oil revenue after the war, Gowon said his administration prioritized the “three Rs”—Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration. “We invested resources in rebuilding schools, hospitals, and infrastructure, particularly in the East and other war-affected areas.”

Addressing the controversial 1975 cement scandal, which allegedly involved the over-ordering of cement that clogged Nigerian ports, Gowon dismissed the claims. “That happened shortly before I was overthrown. There was a global cement shortage and a shipping glut. It was not the reckless mismanagement people claimed.”

When asked how he would like to be remembered, the 89-year-old elder statesman replied:
“I want to be remembered as someone who loved Nigeria and prayed for its peace and unity. If I couldn’t fight for it anymore, I could at least pray for it.”

In a moment of levity, he reacted to past reports that former U.S. President Donald Trump considered placing Nigeria on a visa ban list.
“Well, if that’s the case, it means I can’t go to America anymore,” he said with a smile. “So maybe I should just make Nigeria better than America and stay here.”

 

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“MY DAD WAS BABANGIDA’S ENEMY #1!” — TV Host Morayo Brown Exposes Dark Military Era Rivalry!.

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Speaking during a recent interview on Jay On Air TV, the broadcaster recounted her father’s fearless pro-democracy activism, detailing how his defiance against military dictatorship led to state intimidation, imprisonment, and eventual exile.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking during a recent interview on Jay On Air TV, the broadcaster recounted her father’s fearless pro-democracy activism, detailing how his defiance against military dictatorship led to state intimidation, imprisonment, and eventual exile.

Imprisoned Alongside Beko Ransome-Kuti

According to Morayo, her father’s relentless public criticism of the Babangida regime made him a prime target for state security forces, leading to frequent harassment and detentions.

Key details shared during the interview include:

  • Relentless Persecution: Her father faced constant surveillance and intimidation due to his vocal stance against harmful government policies.

  • Shared Prison Cells: He was detained multiple times, sharing cell blocks with prominent human rights crusaders, including the late Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti.

  • Forced Into Exile: As threats from the military government intensified, remaining in Nigeria became untenable, forcing him to flee the country to escape state-sponsored retaliation.

A Legacy of Courage and Conviction

Reflecting on how her father’s political battles shaped her personal outlook, Morayo highlighted his refusal to be silenced in the face of tyranny as her main inspiration.

“My father was an activist; I grew up knowing he was one of Babangida’s top enemies. Babangida deeply despised him and hated him with passion.

My father shared prison cells with Beko Ransome-Kuti and others. He had to go into exile because Babangida was chasing him.”

She added that witnessing his bravery firsthand instilled in her a lifelong commitment to speaking truth to power and standing firmly for her beliefs.

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ACF SLAMS PETER OBI: “Nobody Appointed Him As A Mediator Between North And South!”

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The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), the apex socio-cultural group of Northern Nigeria, has outrightly dismissed the reported one-term presidential agreement between Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The ACF labeled the secret arrangement illegal, unconstitutional, and a product of pure political desperation.

“Nobody Sent Them to Negotiate for North or South”

Speaking in an interview with Leadership, the ACF National Publicity Secretary, Tukur Muhammad Baba, emphasized that neither Obi nor Kwankwaso possesses the authority to negotiate power rotation between the regions:

  • No Mandate: Nobody commissioned either candidate to broker a presidential deal between the North and the South.

  • Self-Interest: The pact is driven strictly by personal political ambitions rather than public service.

  • Unconstitutional Concept: Leadership rotation is strictly an internal political party affair, not a constitutional requirement, and cannot be forced onto the nation.

Why ACF Wants Voters to Reject the NDC Ticket

Baba argued that rather than convincing Northern voters to support their campaign, the one-term agreement is a strong reason for Nigerians to reject both candidates at the 2027 polls.

“Suppose Peter Obi wins by chance and performs exceptionally well; would it make sense to force him out after just four years for an unproven candidate? It simply makes no sense,” Baba stated.

“Nigerian politicians should not act as if attaining power is all that matters. The fact that they signed such an agreement shows they do not wish this country well.”

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NATIONAL OUTRAGE! Kwankwaso Drops Shocking Bombshell: “We Will Negotiate With Terrorists And Criminals!”.

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During an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Rabiu Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), outlined the party’s strategy for addressing insecurity ahead of the 2027 elections. He stated that an NDC administration would engage with everyone, including criminals and terrorists, to help deter their actions. Kwankwaso noted that local residents in affected areas are well-aware of the identities and locations of these outlaws,                                                                                                                                                                                                           but they often withhold information from security forces out of fear due to negative past experiences when reporting them.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

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