Former Nigerian Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, has revealed a shocking truth about the events leading up to the Nigerian Civil War. In his new book, "Journey in Service," Babangida claims that General Yakubu Gowon's promise to protect the Igbos in northern Nigeria was broken, leading to the devastating 1966 pogrom that resulted in the deaths of thousands of Igbos across northern Nigeria.
According to Babangida, the tension between Gowon and Lt-Col. Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu began when Ojukwu rejected Gowon's appointment as Military Head of State and Commander-in-Chief. Ojukwu had insisted that Brig Babafemi Ogundipe, the most senior army officer at the time, should take the position instead.
In an attempt to restore confidence in the country, Gowon assembled regional politicians, known as the Leaders of Thought, to find a way forward. Babangida described Gowon's decision to release Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the leader of the Yorubas, from prison as a "political masterstroke" that secured the support of the Yorubas.
However, Gowon's failure to fulfill his promise to protect the Igbos in northern Nigeria had disastrous consequences. The killings of Igbos in northern Nigeria on September 29, 1966, were particularly horrific, leading to a massive influx of refugees into eastern Nigeria. Ojukwu's subsequent decision to bar the eastern Nigerian delegation from attending Gowon's Peace and Reconciliation Talks in Lagos marked a turning point in the conflict.
The events that followed, including the Aburi Accord and the federal government's promulgation of Decree 8, ultimately led to the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War. Babangida's revelations provide a fresh perspective on the complex events that shaped Nigeria's history.
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