Thread by @HistoryVille

THE ABURI BOMBSHELL: WHAT OJUKWU REALLY WANTED

The Aburi meeting started on January 4, 1967, and lasted for two days.

Aburi was significant for several reasons. First, that the leaders met at all was an achievement in itself.

#Thread

But even more tangible was the fact that the leaders agreed that force would not be used to settle the “brothers’ palaver”.

There was also the question of the disposition of Nigerian troops and the reorganization of the Army after the second coup on July 29, 1966, and the...

...subsequent pogroms that followed in May and September.

Further, Ojukwu said that his Region was perturbed that contrary to Gowon’s promise on August 9, 1966, which all soldiers would return to their Region of origin, Northern troops still “occupied” the Western Region.

Gowon replied that his promise of August 9, applied to the repatriation of soldiers of Northern origin stationed in the East back to the North and those of Eastern origin stationed in the North back to the East. He had fulfilled his promise, he said.

He then emphasized that soldiers of Northern origin would remain in the West since there were only a few Yoruba in the Nigerian Army.

Ojukwu was not satisfied and further insisted on a reorganization of the Army on a Regional basis.

Gowon was also firmly opposed to splitting up the Army. Ojukwu claimed that Nigeria did not have a central government since the country as a result of the second coup and its aftermath resolved itself into three separate sovereign areas...

...the Lagos-West-North Area, the Mid-West Area, and the East Area.

But Gowon insisted that Nigeria was still one nation, an entity composed of four regions and a central government in Lagos.

GOWON: Are we not a federation? Are you not part of the federation?

OJUKWU: Are you the federation?

GOWON: I am part of the federation.

OJUKWU: All I say is I must be consulted before that sort of thing that is likely to affect the East is promulgated…….

KATSINA: Let us try to be honest. If the East does not recognize the federation I think you better secede and let the three of us [North, West, and Mid-West] join together. Please let us be honest.

ADEBAYO: That is not what he is saying.

KATSINA: That is what he is saying.

Indeed, what was Ojukwu saying?.... #HistoryVille

Source: Aburi, Echoes of the Nigeria-Biafra War.

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