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Gowon’s Memoir: Reno Omokri Reveals Fresh Details On Ironsi, Biafra, Civil War
Former presidential aide and author, Reno Omokri, has highlighted what he described as significant revelations from former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon’s autobiography, My Life of Duty & Allegiance.
Gowon’s memoir, published in 2026, chronicles his military career, emergence as Head of State, the Nigerian Civil War, his 1975 overthrow and his subsequent life in exile. The book has generated considerable discussion because of its account of some of Nigeria’s most consequential historical events.
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In a lengthy review of the autobiography, Omokri described the book as “unexpectedly well written and captivating,” adding that he learnt a lot from it.
One of the issues he highlighted was Gowon’s account of his relationship with his predecessor, Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi.
According to Omokri, Gowon revealed that Ironsi attempted twice to remove him from his position as General Officer Commanding the Nigerian Army.
Citing pages 193 and 295, Omokri said Ironsi first attempted to move Gowon to head the Air Force and later proposed sending him to the United Kingdom for a course.
However, Omokri cautioned against reaching definitive conclusions from Gowon’s account alone.
“Of course, without General Ironsi’s side of the story, we cannot draw concrete conclusions,” he wrote.
Omokri also drew attention to Gowon’s account of how he became Head of State following the July 1966 counter-coup.
He said the memoir suggested that Gowon was almost “elected” by officers and men gathered at Ikeja Barracks during the uncertain period that followed the counter-coup.
“On page 212, we learnt that Gowon was almost in a way ‘elected’ by the officers and men gathered at the Ikeja Barracks to be Head of State in the uncertain atmosphere that followed the July 29, 1966 countercoup,” Omokri wrote.
He further highlighted Gowon’s description of the early period of his administration, arguing that the former Head of State initially occupied the office without having complete control over the machinery of government.
“From page 217, we understand that he was initially in office but not in power,” Omokri said.
The review also focused on the role of Nigerians of Igbo origin who, according to Omokri’s reading of the memoir, remained among Gowon’s advisers during the crisis and Civil War.
He specifically mentioned Philip Asiodu, Edwin Ogbu and Ukpabi Asika.
“On page 282, we learn … that there were quite a number of Igbos, even during the crisis and later the Civil War, who were in Gowon’s kitchen cabinet, advising him,” he wrote.
Omokri also highlighted Gowon’s account of the political structure of his administration, saying the former Head of State described a system in which military and civilian authorities shared power.
“From page 302, we learn that General Gowon practised diarchy, a form of government in which the military shared power with civilians,” Omokri stated.
Another controversial issue raised in the review concerned an allegation in the memoir about foreign involvement in the Nigerian Civil War.
According to Omokri, Gowon alleged that the Rothschild family sponsored Biafra’s war against Nigeria after reaching an agreement with the then Biafran leader, Lieutenant Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.
Omokri, however, noted that Gowon did not provide much detail on the allegation. The claim is therefore presented here as an allegation attributed to Gowon in the memoir, rather than an independently established fact.
Omokri also said Gowon took issue with Chinua Achebe’s account of the Civil War, particularly the late author’s book, There Was a Country.
“On page 363, General Gowon, more or less, called Achebe a propagandist, especially with regard to his book, ‘There Was a Country’,” Omokri wrote.
The review further examined Gowon’s personal experiences following his overthrow in 1975.
Omokri said the memoir revealed that Gowon experienced financial difficulties after being removed from power and later lived in England, where he received assistance from Nigerians.
“On page 602, you almost feel sorry for him after his overthrow in Kampala, where he had to depend on donations from Presidents Idi Amin and Eyadéma because he was broke,” he wrote.
Omokri also highlighted Gowon’s account of his years at the University of Warwick, saying the former Head of State cooked for fellow Nigerian students and travelled on public buses.
“On page 620, he showed that he never lost that personal touch when he cooked food for fellow Nigerian students at the University of Warwick, who were shocked to see him riding public buses,” Omokri said.
Concluding his review, Omokri praised Gowon’s record-keeping and willingness to acknowledge mistakes.
“Altogether, this is a brilliant book, and I am impressed by General Gowon’s meticulous record-keeping, his purity of heart, and his willingness to admit mistakes,” he wrote.
“This book is a must-read for all those who want to understand post-colonial Nigeria,” Omokri added.
Otunba Segun Showunmi, a member of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) for 2027, has urged the South-East to assess President Bola Tinubu’s administration based on verifiable projects and measurable results rather than political propaganda.
Showunmi made the call in a statement posted on X on Saturday, urging Nigerians to evaluate the government’s performance based on infrastructure delivery, funds committed to projects and their impact on communities.
He said federal infrastructure initiatives targeting the South-East under Tinubu’s administration deserved serious scrutiny and factual assessment, adding that unfulfilled promises should continue to be pursued until the expected results were delivered.
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“Our message is clear: We will not trade facts for propaganda, nor accountability for political loyalty!” he said.
The political figure challenged critics of the administration to provide evidence to support their claims, while urging those defending the government to present the projects and demonstrate their impact.
He also called on government officials to publish relevant figures, disclose project timelines and provide measurable results, insisting that no public official should be exempt from scrutiny.
According to Showunmi, the South-East deserves infrastructure that supports economic growth, including roads that connect markets, investments that create jobs and policies that expand economic opportunities.
He maintained that political representation must translate into tangible benefits for citizens, stressing that public office should deliver value to the people.
As part of his call to action, Showunmi urged Nigerians to scrutinise government records, challenge misinformation with evidence and demand the completion of outstanding projects.
He further called for public commitments to be matched by measurable delivery, arguing that leadership should be assessed by facts and results rather than political rhetoric.
Ending his statement with the slogan, “Asiwaju is a goal,” Showunmi called for accountability and greater inclusion of the South-East in Nigeria’s development.
Showunmi is associated with The Alternative and is a member of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 elections.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Saturday announced a temporary road closure near Apostolic Church, inward Toll Gate, to allow engineers to install a beam on a height-restriction structure.
The agency said the installation was aimed at preventing high-rise trailers from accessing the newly constructed pedestrian bridge.
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“Currently, one lane has been occupied to facilitate the ongoing construction work, while the remaining two lanes are available to motorists,” LASTMA stated.
The agency advised road users to approach the affected corridor with caution and follow the directions of its personnel deployed to the area.
“Road users are advised to approach the affected corridor with caution and follow the directions of our personnel who are on ground to ensure the smooth flow of vehicular movement,” the statement added.
LASTMA also urged motorists to remain patient while the installation work continued.
“Motorists are encouraged to exercise patience while the installation work is in progress,” the agency stated.
Nigerian national Ekene Chukwuma has said he returned to Nigeria with assistance linked to Oseni Rufai rather than the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), while renewing allegations against the commission’s chairperson, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, over his travel documents.
Chukwuma made the remarks in an interview in which he explained how he returned to Nigeria after spending months at a deportation camp in India.
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“My name is Kenneth Chukwu, from Enugu State,” he said, introducing himself before explaining how he returned to the country.
“I came back here with the assist of Osini Roufai, a good friend of him,” he said.
Chukwuma denied that NiDCOM facilitated his return, alleging that the commission had published false information about his case.
“NiDCOM made a lots of false, uh, news acquisition against me, which is still in Abike Dabiri handle in Twitter,” he said.
He also accused Dabiri-Erewa of sharing his expired international passport and a travel certificate he claimed was issued six months after he entered the detention camp.
“He also, she also posted my international passport that expired. He also, she also posted my TC that issued after 6 months,” he said.
His comments renew questions surrounding the handling of his case and the circumstances under which he obtained the documents needed to return to Nigeria.
Chukwuma’s detention in India previously sparked a public disagreement between ARISE News presenter Oseni Rufai and Dabiri-Erewa over NiDCOM’s response to reports of his situation.
Oseni raised concerns about Chukwuma’s detention and the commission’s handling of the case, while Dabiri-Erewa defended NiDCOM’s position and explained the process for submitting information to the commission.
NiDCOM subsequently issued its account of Chukwuma’s detention, stating that he had been arrested in India over a visa overstay and addressing the circumstances surrounding his travel documents.
The differing accounts prompted public debate about the commission’s response to Nigerians facing immigration difficulties abroad.
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