A Northern Reader’s Critique of Gowon’s Memoir and the Civil War Narrative

After reading General Yakubu Gowon’s memoir, I came away questioning the version of the civil war that many Northerners, including myself, were taught to accept. I argue that the book contains contradictions about the July 1966 counter-coup, the Aburi Accord and the federal government’s role in the events that led to war. I examine Gowon’s account of an attempted rescue of General Aguiyi-Ironsi alongside accounts that say he authorised Ironsi’s arrest. I also question his explanation for accepting the Aburi terms before the federal government introduced Decree No. 8, which altered the agreement’s framework. The memoir’s description of war casualties as “thousands” is another major concern for me. I believe this understates the scale of civilian deaths from starvation, disease and military operations. I also argue that the post-war promise of “No Victor, No Vanquished” did not match the experiences of many returning Biafrans, including losses linked to currency, property and reconstruction. This is not written simply to attack Gowon. It is a call for Northerners and all Nigerians to revisit the civil war honestly, confront the human cost, and question the narratives that have shaped our understanding for decades.

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