On Aburi We Stand: Lessons from Nigeria’s Failed Peace Accord

By Okoi Obono-Obla

On Aburi We Stand: Lessons from Nigeria’s Failed Peace Accord:

During the Nigerian Civil War, the Biafran delegations at peace meetings convened by mediators often emphasized the slogan “On Aburi We Stand.” Aburi played a significant role in Nigeria’s history, particularly in the events leading to the civil war fought from July 1967 to January 15, 1970.

The breakdown of law and order after the coup of July 29, 1966, which led to the assassination of Major General Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi (the Military Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria), and his replacement with General Yakubu Gowon, triggered a national crisis. Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Military Governor of the Eastern Region, refused to recognize Gowon’s leadership. The subsequent killings of people from Eastern Nigeria in Northern Nigeria escalated tensions, creating a catastrophic situation that demanded urgent intervention from African nations to avert civil war.

The Ghanaian Head of State, Lieutenant General Joseph Arthur Ankrah, took the initiative to convene peace talks in Aburi, Ghana, from January 4–7, 1967. Aburi, located in the Akuapim South Municipal District of Ghana’s Eastern Region, sits atop the scenic Akwapim-Togo Range, about 30 km north of Accra. It is globally renowned for the Aburi Botanical Gardens and the bustling Aburi Wood Carving Village.

The Ghanaian Mediator:

Lieutenant General Joseph Arthur Ankrah was Ghana’s Military Head of State and Commander-in-Chief from 1966 to 1969, serving as the country’s first military leader after the overthrow of Kwame Nkrumah. Born in 1915 in Accra, he enlisted in the Gold Coast Regiment during World War II and became the first African officer in the Gold Coast Army in 1947. Ankrah resigned from the presidency in 1969 after a political scandal and was succeeded by Brigadier Akwasi Afrifa. He remained a prominent public figure until his death in 1992.

As Chairman of the Ghana National Liberation Council, Ankrah facilitated the historic Aburi summit, bringing together Nigeria’s Federal Government led by General Yakubu Gowon and the Eastern Region led by Colonel Ojukwu in an effort to prevent war.

Nigerian Delegation to Aburi:

The Nigerian delegation consisted of members of the Supreme Military Council, military governors, and top police officials:

– Yakubu Gowon – Head of State & Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces (North)

– Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu – Military Governor, Eastern Region  (East)

– Hassan Katsina – Military Governor, Northern Region  (North)

– Robert Adebayo – Military Governor, Western Region  (West)

– David Ejoor – Military Governor, Mid-Western Region  (Mid West)

– Mobolaji Johnson – Military Governor, Lagos State  (Lagos)

– Joseph Edet Akinwale Wey – Head of the Nigerian Navy & Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters (West with Eastern mother)

– Kam Selem – Inspector-General of Police  (North)

– Timothy Omo-Bare – Deputy Inspector-General of Police  (Mid West)

– Ntieyong Udo Akpan – Secretary to the Military Governor-East  (East)

– Ali Akilu – Secretary to the Military Governor-North  (North)

– D.P. Lawani – Under Secretary, Military Governor’s Office-Mid-West

– Peter Odumosu – Secretary to the Military Governor-West

– Solomon Akenzua (later Oba of Benin, Erediauwa I) – Permanent Under-Secretary, Federal Cabinet Office  (Mid West)

The Aburi Accord – What Was Agreed:

– No use of force to settle Nigeria’s crisis.

– Supreme Military Council (SMC) to hold legislative and executive authority, with unanimous concurrence required for national decisions.

– Regional autonomy: Military governors would control security in their regions.

– Appointments to senior civil service, police, and diplomatic posts required SMC approval.

– Collective responsibility: All powers vested in the SMC, not just the federal head.

Why the Accord Failed:

– Different interpretations: Ojukwu saw Aburi as a step toward confederation (a loose union of autonomous regions), while Gowon feared it would weaken central authority.

– Federal backtracking: On returning to Lagos, Gowon—under pressure from civil servants and foreign advisers—issued Decree No. 8 (March 1967), which diluted Aburi’s terms, especially on emergency powers and military control.

– Breakdown of trust: The Eastern Region viewed this as betrayal. Ojukwu warned that failure to implement Aburi left the East with no choice but “self-determination.”

The collapse of the Aburi Accord plunged Nigeria into a tragic civil war—the first modern war fought between Africans on African soil.

Lessons for Today’s Leaders

The Aburi peace accord teaches vital lessons:

– Trust and sincerity are indispensable in negotiations. Agreements must be honored to prevent escalation.

– Inclusive governance ensures that all regions feel represented and secure.

– Dialogue over force remains the most sustainable path to peace.

– Transparency in leadership prevents suspicion and betrayal.

The failure of Aburi reminds us that peace accords are only as strong as the commitment of leaders to uphold them. For modern Africa, the lesson is clear: unity and trust must outweigh political expediency, or history risks repeating itself.