Former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar has shed light on why Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, leader of Biafra during the Nigerian Civil War, refused to recognise Yakubu Gowon as Head of State following the 1966 counter‑coup.

According to Abubakar, Ojukwu believed that military hierarchy required Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe, the most senior officer at the time, to succeed General Johnson Aguiyi‑Ironsi after his assassination. Gowon, who was a lower‑ranking officer, was instead installed as Head of State by northern officers.

Ojukwu’s refusal to pledge allegiance to Gowon deepened ethnic mistrust and political divisions, eventually leading to the declaration of the Republic of Biafra in May 1967.

Key Context

• January 1966 coup: Led by Major Kaduna Nzeogwu, it toppled the First Republic and brought Ironsi to power.
• July 1966 counter‑coup: Northern officers killed Ironsi and installed Gowon.
• Ojukwu’s stance: He insisted on strict adherence to military seniority, rejecting Gowon’s authority.
• Escalation: Failed reconciliation efforts, including the Aburi Accord, collapsed, paving the way for civil war.

Outcome
The disagreement over succession was a major trigger for the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970), which claimed over a million lives and reshaped Nigeria’s political history.