PDP chieftain Ulasi accuses ex-Head of State Gowon of 'convenient amnesia' in civil war memoir
PDP chieftain Dan Ulasi accused former Head of State Yakubu Gowon of spreading "convenient amnesia" and half-truths in his newly published memoir on the Nigerian Civil War. Speaking on Arise Television's The Morning Show on Friday, July 23, 2026, Ulasi argued that Gowon's account failed to accurately reflect events, particularly regarding the Aburi Accord which he claimed Gowon endorsed in Ghana but later disowned upon returning to Nigeria.
Ulasi specifically accused Gowon of omitting crucial historical details, questioning why the former military leader never publicly responded to late Biafran leader Chukwuemeka Ojukwu's criticisms during his lifetime but chose to publish his own version now that critics like Ojukwu are deceased. "It is unfortunate that we are reopening old wounds," Ulasi stated, linking the controversy to recent events where Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang apologized to the Igbo community over the role of some Plateau indigenes during the war.
In his memoir, Gowon details the January 1966 coup and July counter-coup that brought him to power, arguing that northern officers suspected Ojukwu's involvement in the first coup. He defended his succession over the then-most senior officer Babafemi Ogundipe, claiming the counter-coup circumstances made Ogundipe unable to effectively command forces. Gowon also asserted that Ojukwu rejected reconciliation efforts and insisted military seniority alone should determine Ironsi's successor.
This historical accountability debate matters as Nigeria continues to grapple with civil war legacies, with Ulasi suggesting the memoir's timing appears opportunistic when key witnesses cannot challenge the narrative. Readers should consider these specific allegations when evaluating competing historical narratives about Nigeria's pivotal conflict.