Excerpts from “Ojukwu: The Last Patriot,” focusing on the character of General Yakubu Gowon as portrayed by the author, Valentine Obienyem.
Leaf 1
“We know the character of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu largely through the civil war, which lasted for three years, 1967-1970. The two most prominent characters in that war were Generals Yakubu Gowon and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu. Men might be divided on which side to identify with, but the debate they once started at Aburi, Ghana, goes on.
Modern Nigeria continues the argument as it rebounds through every phase of its nationhood. The modern lovers of freedom, justice and discipline tend to say: ‘Gowon, you ended the order of hierarchy and precedence in the army; admit that the disruption set a dangerous precedent. Accept that your victory in the civil war was pyrrhic, in that you gained it after having destroyed everything that Nigeria held dear: discipline, faithfulness, sacredness of human life, freedom and justice. Agree that the war was unjustified inasmuch as it was against a group that was hounded out of the country and was forced to take measures to protect itself.’”
(Page xi)
Leaf 2
“Indeed, many have accused Ojukwu of having a hand in the said coup due to their lack of understanding of its dynamics. Some understood but were propelled partly by envy and partly by ill-will to give it ethnic outlook. Some, in a desperate attempt to rope him in, tried to establish a nexus between the coup and the meeting of the Nigerian Staff Officers in Lagos in 1964, which Ojukwu called. The aim of the meeting was to determine whom the army would obey—the President or the Prime Minister—in the event of any crisis.
Lt. Colonel Yakubu Gowon who attended the meeting had reported him to the British General Officer Commanding, General Welby Everard, for ‘holding political meeting.’ Opinions have it that it was part of Gowon’s holier-than-thou attitude. But fearing lest Ojukwu was up to some mischief, he was summoned by Everard. When the issue that prompted the initial meeting was raised, Everard himself confessed his ignorance and praised Ojukwu’s good judgement, but chided him for not coming to him first. The Attorney General was later consulted on the matter. He made it clear that, in the event of a conflict, the officer corps should obey the democratically elected political leader of the country—the Prime Minister.”
(Pages 22-23)
Leaf 3
“With the death of Ironsi, an organised pogrom was carried out. An eyewitness told how orders were given to some Northern soldiers to kill all Easterners. The terrified soldiers at first refused to obey the command. They were however induced to kill a few. The heat of the murder inflamed them and it passed into massacre. This spread to the barracks and Igbo quarters with fluid readiness.
Ojukwu and other concerned Igbos raised horrified protests, even as soldiers of the Northern region congratulated one another. Igbos then came to the belief that the security of the Easterners was in their own hands. The courage of their leader, Ojukwu, gave dignity and splendour to their survival cause. Thousands of onlookers must have been disturbed as millions of Igbos left the North in a prolonged and melancholy exodus.
Whilst the exodus was on, Gowon shuttled between the British High Commission and Ikeja where the plotters were. The plotters wanted the secession of the North and had even hoisted the new Northern flag in strategic places. After his numerous meetings with the British High Commission, he was able to convince the plotters on the need to keep the country, which seemed to have been lost.
At this juncture, Gowon assumed the post of the Supreme Commander, preparatory to presiding over the whole country and its military. His first act was to write to Ojukwu humbly and reverently, soliciting his friendship, and, by implication, his support. Ojukwu pointedly rejected a friendship that meant the destruction of the Nigerian military code. When Ojukwu asked him by what right he was taking command from General Ironsi, he pointed not to the insignia of his rank, but to the Northern soldiers under his command.”
(Pages 28-30)
Leaf 4
“Unfortunately no sooner had they returned from Aburi, than controversy arose among them about the interpretation of the Aburi agreements. Differences in the interpretation drove Lagos and Enugu further and further apart. This misinterpretation worried Ojukwu. He did not hesitate to write to his colleagues a letter, appreciative of their collective efforts thus far but warning of the damage a negation of Aburi would do. Gowon thanked him for his concern and promised a swift response. He probably did not find in his Council someone who could undertake to cross swords with the polished historian. The gap widened.”
(Pages 28-30)
_(Read the concluding Leaves tomorrow)_
