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Secrets Unveiled: Gowon Blames Hidden Forces for Aburi Accord Breakdown
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.”
The Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has appealed to residents of Abia State and other road users along the Aba–Azumini highway to protect the newly completed road from activities that could damage it.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
FERMA’s South-East 2 Zonal Director, Suleiman Mohammed Omonowo, issued the warning during an inspection of the project, cautioning against the burning of tyres during celebrations, which he said could damage the road surface.
He noted that destructive practices by some youths and community members often contribute to the early failure of road projects across the country.
“Our advice to road users, especially indigenes, is to protect the road from destruction. Let nobody come and destroy it or burn tyres in the name of celebration,” he said.
Omonowo said the Aba–Azumini highway was previously in a very bad condition before FERMA intervened, describing it as a death trap for commuters and residents.
He also expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done on the project, adding that drainage structures such as catch pits would help prevent flooding and extend the lifespan of the road.
According to him, the highway serves as a major link between Aba, several Abia communities, and Cross River State, carrying heavy traffic daily.
He urged local construction firms to improve on quality delivery to compete effectively with foreign contractors.
Meanwhile, the Federal Roads Maintenance Engineer in Abia State, Festus Okafor, said FERMA workers have not faced harassment or violence from residents during operations in the state.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), Yobe State Command, has declared a 30-year-old inmate wanted after he escaped following a road accident involving a prison transport vehicle.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The incident reportedly occurred on April 13, 2026, while inmates were being conveyed from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Potiskum to Damaturu.
In a statement issued in Damaturu, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSC Abdullahi Adamu, said the vehicle conveying the inmates was involved in a crash during the journey.
He said the accident happened while efforts were ongoing to rescue those affected.
The escaped inmate was identified as Dahiru Mohammed, with prison number J/1539/24, who was admitted into custody on November 29, 2024.
The Correctional Service described him as dangerous and warned members of the public not to have any form of contact with him.
It urged residents to report any useful information that could lead to his re-arrest to the nearest security agency.
Authorities also cautioned that harbouring a fugitive is a criminal offence punishable under the law.
The Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has ordered the University of Ibadan (UI) to reinstate three students suspended over their participation in a protest against tuition fee hikes.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Nkeonye Maha set aside the decision of the university’s Central Student Disciplinary Committee, ruling that the students were denied fair hearing during the disciplinary process.
The court held that the failure to allow the students call witnesses and present evidence violated their constitutional right to fair hearing, rendering the sanctions against them invalid.
The affected students — Aduwo Ayodele, Mide Gbadegesin, and Nice Linus — were suspended on July 14, 2025, after taking part in a protest against increased school fees approved by the university’s governing council.
Dissatisfied with the suspension, they approached the court, arguing that the disciplinary proceedings breached their fundamental rights and due process.
They asked the court to quash the suspension, reinstate their studentship, and award damages for alleged rights violations.
In her ruling, Justice Maha agreed with their arguments, stating that the university’s actions failed to meet the standards of natural justice.
Following the judgment, rights group CAPPA hailed the decision, urging the university to comply fully, reinstate the students, and issue an apology.
The group said the ruling reinforces constitutional protections for freedom of expression and serves as a warning against the suppression of student protests in tertiary institutions.
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