US-Based Group Accuses Gowon of Twisting Aburi Accord Facts, Blames Him for Nigerian Civil War Bloodshed

A US-based advocacy group, the Nigerian-American Coalition for Justice and Democracy (NACJD), has stirred national attention by accusing former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), of misrepresenting the events surrounding the Aburi Accord. The group asserts that Gowon’s failure to honor the agreements reached at Aburi in Ghana in 1967 directly contributed to the outbreak and escalation of the Nigerian Civil War.

The Aburi Accord was a crucial meeting held between representatives of the federal government and the Eastern Region, led by then Military Governor, Lt. Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. The meeting was intended to resolve tensions following the July 1966 counter-coup and prevent the country from sliding into war. Agreements were reached to devolve more power to the regions and to restructure the military command.

However, according to the NACJD, General Gowon reneged on the terms of the Aburi Accord shortly after returning to Nigeria, opting instead for a centralised government structure, which they claim ignited the 30-month civil war. Over one million lives, predominantly from the Eastern Region, were lost during the conflict.

In a recent statement, the group criticised what they described as a “historical distortion” by Gowon, who has in recent years publicly defended his actions. They argue that such narratives erase the genuine efforts made at Aburi to preserve Nigeria’s unity peacefully. The NACJD called for national reconciliation based on truth, transparency, and justice.

This renewed scrutiny comes at a time when the country is re-evaluating its history and grappling with calls for restructuring and regional autonomy. Analysts believe the Aburi Accord remains a symbol of lost opportunities for peace and mutual respect among Nigeria’s ethnic nationalities. The NACJD’s intervention has reignited debate on the need for an honest reckoning with Nigeria’s past to build a just future.