At The Aburi Accord, Gowon Naively Had Almost Ceded Nigeria To Emeka Ojukwu” Femi Kehinde

According to a video posted on Edmund Obilo Podcast on Monday November 9, 2026, Femi Kehinde said General Yakubu Gowon naively almost ceded Nigeria to Emeka Ojukwu at the Aburi Accord.

The host had asked why Gowon did not step in during the Agbekoya crisis. He asked if Gowon was held back by the war in Biafra. Kehinde said Gowon was already bogged down by it.

In his words, Femi Kehinde said, “But for Awolowo’s financial sagacity, political dexterity, Emeka Ojukwu could have gone further without war.

“You know, when it started, it was ego fights between Jack and Emeka. Don’t blame me, blame Oxford. At the Aburi Accord, Gowon naively had almost ceded Nigeria to Emeka Ojukwu,” he said.

The “Oxford” remark appears to refer to the two men’s education. Kehinde did not explain it further. It is a light aside, not a documented claim.

Kehinde said Gowon later had to go back on the agreement after being told it was a colossal error. He said the war then started on 6 July 1967. He said Gowon believed police action could settle it.

He said the war ran for almost three years and three million lives were lost. He praised Awolowo, who was finance minister, because the federal government did not borrow a single dime to fight it.

Kehinde said the war strained the western region, since Adebayo needed to raise revenue. This led to the flat tax increase that angered farmers. The Agbekoya revolt followed and lasted until October 1969.

Watch headline quotes from (00:48:07–00:48:20):

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