Gowon Reveals Obasanjo’s Initial Resistance to Serving Under Murtala During Civil War
Former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, has revealed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo initially refused to serve under Murtala Muhammed during the Nigerian Civil War, insisting he would not take orders from a junior officer.
The revelation is contained in Chapter 14 of Gowon’s autobiography, My Life of Duty and Allegiance, titled “No Going Back,” unveiled in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to Gowon, the disagreement emerged after he created a Rear Command structure under the then newly formed 2 Division led by Murtala Muhammed. Under the arrangement, Obasanjo, who was serving as Sector Commander in the Western State, was expected to take on a supporting role as Rear Commander based in Ibadan.
Gowon said Obasanjo strongly opposed the move, believing he was more senior and should not be placed under Murtala’s authority.
“He believed he was more senior and should not be expected to serve under his junior,” Gowon wrote, adding that Obasanjo made it clear he would “never serve under Colonel Murtala Muhammed for any reason.”
The former Head of State said he intervened by exercising his authority as Commander-in-Chief and insisting that military assignments were determined by national needs rather than personal preferences.
“I stood my ground that, as Commander-in-Chief, I reserved the right to send people to where I believe they could be most useful to the country at any material time,” Gowon stated.
He explained that Obasanjo later accepted the assignment and subsequently performed effectively in the role.
Gowon further described himself as Obasanjo’s informal “guardian angel,” recalling that their relationship dated back to March 1958 during officer training in the United Kingdom.
According to him, his impression of Obasanjo was shaped after the future president assisted him financially at a time he was facing difficulties settling bills upon arriving in London.
“That singular act made me take more interest in Obasanjo and what he did,” Gowon wrote.
The former Head of State also made claims regarding Biafran leader Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, alleging that during the war, arrangements were made involving Biafra’s mineral resources in pursuit of foreign support for the secessionist movement.
The memoir offers fresh insights into relationships and decisions that shaped Nigeria’s civil war era and its political history.
Gowon Reveals Obasanjo’s Initial Resistance to Serving Under Murtala During Civil War