A former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, has said that a key reason for the collapse of the Aburi Accord, the last major attempt to prevent Nigeria’s civil war, was a fundamental disagreement with Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu over who should control military forces in the country’s regions.

Speaking in an interview on Arise TV on Wednesday, Gowon explained that although both parties engaged in sincere dialogue during the January 1967 summit in Aburi, Ghana, the eastern region leader, Ojukwu, later pushed for a form of regional autonomy that the federal side could not accept.

Gowon said, “Although we said that the military would be zoned, you know, but the control… he wanted, you know, those zones to be commanded by the governor. Say you have a military zone in the north, it would be commanded by the governor of the military in the east, it would be commanded by, you know, by him.

“And, of course, we did not agree with that one”, Gowon said.

He further explained that the Federal delegation never viewed the Aburi meeting as a forum for constitutional restructuring or military devolution.

READ ALSO: Naira Rains As Asiaye Takes Emily As Wife [PHOTOS& VIDEO]

“We just went there as far as we are concerned to be able to meet as officers now, and then to agree to be able to get back home and resolve a problem at home. That was my understanding. But that is not his understanding”, he added.

Gowon also revealed that upon returning to Nigeria after the summit, he was ill and unable to immediately respond to the terms Ojukwu had publicly announced. This delay, he said, created space for misunderstanding and unilateral declarations.

“Unfortunately… I was having a serious attack of a kind of fever or whatever it is, and I could not make a decision”, the former Head of State said.

He accused Ojukwu of making unauthorised statements about the Accord without waiting for joint clarification.

READ ALSO: How Abacha Would Have Executed Obasanjo – Gowon

“Ojukwu was one who, when he came, he went and made… a statement about the Aburi Accord”, Gowon said.

To address the confusion, Gowon said the federal government convened a follow-up meeting in Benin, inviting all regional governors to agree on the path forward — but Ojukwu declined to attend.

“We had to organise that, you know, a meeting of all the governors. And he was invited to attend so that we can deal with the Accord. And we met at Nifo in Benin. And he did not turn up”, he said.

Gowon insisted that had Ojukwu attended the Benin meeting, the parties might have been able to avoid escalation.

READ ALSO:Biafra Civil War: You’re A Genocidist – IPOB Fires Back At Gowon

Gowon said the government was willing to work in the “spirit of Aburi,” but would never concede national military control to regional governors, nor accept the possibility of secession.

“The only thing that I added was that no region, you know, will, you know, can secede from the country.”

The collapse of the Aburi Accord is widely regarded as a decisive moment that led to the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War in July 1967, a conflict that lasted until 1970 and claimed over a million lives.

Gowon’s remarks shed new light on the irreconcilable differences between both sides and reveal that the push for regional military control, rather than just political autonomy, was a red line for the federal government.

The Federal Government has announced that it is finalising emergency evacuation plans for Nigerian citizens stranded in Israel and Iran following the recent escalation of hostilities between the two nations.

According to a statement released by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, on Tuesday night, Nigerian embassies in Tel Aviv and Tehran are actively reaching out to affected citizens and coordinating efforts to ensure their safe return.

Nigerians in the affected regions have been urged to adhere strictly to local security protocols and to contact the nearest Nigerian Embassy or Mission for registration and further instructions.

The ministry acknowledged the dedication of diplomatic staff in both countries and assured the public of the government’s commitment to the safety and welfare of its citizens abroad.

READ ALSO: Netanyahu Says Israel’s Strikes On Iran Have ‘Clear Support’ Of Trump

It also noted ongoing collaboration with international partners and local authorities to ensure a timely and secure evacuation process.

The statement read in part, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform that following the escalation of the crisis between the State of Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Federal Government is finalising arrangements for the emergency evacuation of stranded Nigerians in both countries.

“All affected Nigerian citizens are therefore strongly advised to abide by necessary security protocols and contact the nearest Nigerian Embassy or Mission for registration and further instructions.

“The Ministry commends the efforts put in place by our Missions in Tel Aviv, Israel and Tehran, Iran for their dedication and commitment to reaching out to the Nigerian Community in these difficult times.

READ ALSO: Turkish President, Erdogan Calls Putin, Accused Israel Of Threatening Regional Security

“We wish to assure the general public that the Federal Government of Nigeria remains committed to the safety and welfare of all its citizens, both at home and abroad, and is working in close coordination with relevant international partners and local authorities to ensure the timely and secure evacuation of Nigerians in affected areas.”

In addition, FG renewed its call for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Iran, urging all parties to embrace dialogue, uphold international humanitarian law, and prioritise the protection of civilians.

The ministry reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to peaceful conflict resolution and its longstanding support for regional and global peace.

“In the same vein, the Government of Nigeria reiterates its call for the immediate cessation of hostilities and urges all parties involved to embrace dialogue, respect international humanitarian law and prioritise the protection of civilians.

READ ALSO: Iran Arrests Five For ‘Tarnishing’ Country’s Image

“Nigeria stands firm in its support for the peaceful resolution of conflicts and reaffirms its longstanding commitment to regional and global peace and stability,” the ministry added.

Further updates on the evacuation operation will be made available through official government channels.

On Friday, Israel launched a major air campaign targeting around 100 sites across Iran, including nuclear and military facilities, killing several senior Iranian military leaders.

The strikes, marking one of the most significant escalations between the two countries in recent years, triggered widespread international reactions urging calm and diplomacy to prevent further conflict.

Among those killed were Iran’s armed forces chief of staff, General Mohammad Bagheri, and the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Salami.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, called Israel’s wave of strikes a “declaration of war”, as he warned Israel it faced a “bitter and painful” fate over the attacks, while the Iranian military said there were “no limits” to its response.

Late elder statesman and former Ohanaeze Ndigbo President -General, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has left behind a final Will that bans his wife, Lolo Frances from remarrying.

The document, released on June 16, 2025, and managed by Will administrator, Chief Chukwuma Ekomaru (SAN), outlines how the respected businessman and politician’s wealth is divided among his immediate family and select beneficiaries.

Among the key highlights is the inheritance of the iconic “Legacy House” on Port Harcourt Road, Owerri, willed to his wife, Frances with a strict instruction that the house must never be sold.

In addition to the residence, Frances received ownership of Magil Furniture—once run by Iwuanyanwu’s late first wife, Eudora—and partial ownership of real estate holdings in Orji, Works Layout, and Naze in Imo State.

But the Will comes with a firm condition: “any move by Frances to remarry would result in automatic forfeiture of all these properties.”

READ ALSO: My Husband Urinates, Defecates In His Clothes When He’s Drunk, Wife Tells Court

Their son inherits the Abuja residence, while the London property is slated for sale.

The proceeds from that transaction are to be divided with 60% earmarked for the education of Iwuanyanwu’s youngest son, 30% to his first son, Jide, and 10% to Ezinne, who currently resides in the property, to aid in securing a new home.

A major philanthropic gesture within the Will is the decision to convert the “Glass House” near the Orji flyover into a public trust managed by an independent board, dedicated to charitable and community causes.

Meanwhile, other valuable assets located in Abuja, Imo, and across Nigeria were fairly allocated among his five children, who have collectively described their father’s final instructions as “honorable and just.”
(NDM)