Ojukwu's Aburi Interview Resurfaces, Contradicting Gowon's Account
Former Eastern Region leader Chukwuemeka Ojukwu's old NTA interview about the 1967 Aburi meeting resurfaced on social media, directly contradicting former Head of State Yakubu Gowon's recent autobiography. In the interview, Ojukwu accused Gowon of betraying an agreement allegedly reached at Aburi that would have restructured Nigeria with greater autonomy for regions, leading to the creation of Biafra.
Gowon, in his book 'My Life of Duty and Allegiance', maintains there was no agreement allowing the Eastern Region to secede, despite Ojukwu's claims that tapes and transcripts prove partitioning agreements were reached. Ojukwu described how minutes were drafted jointly by his chief secretary and officials from Gowon's side, with both delegations agreeing on the final document after General Ankrah reviewed it.
The former Biafran leader claimed external pressures from ambassadors in Lagos derailed the peaceful outcome, saying 'we understood each other, we agreed on every single point' at Aburi. He recalled a cordial moment when Ankrah drove them to the airport, with Ojukwu placing both leaders' hands together and asking Ankrah to keep them united, even suggesting he would propose Gowon as Head of State if implemented.
This historical debate matters because the Aburi meeting was a major event preceding Nigeria's three-year civil war where millions died. As Nigeria continues to grapple with regional tensions, understanding how these negotiations collapsed provides crucial context for contemporary discussions about national unity and restructuring.