Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Dan Ulasi has criticised former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon’s memoir on the Nigerian Civil War, describing parts of it as containing “convenient amnesia” and “half-truths.”
Speaking on The Morning Show on Arise Television on Friday, July 24, 2026, Ulasi argued that Gowon’s account omitted key events surrounding the conflict, particularly the Aburi Accord. He maintained that Gowon accepted and signed the agreement in Ghana but later failed to implement its provisions after returning to Nigeria.
Ulasi also questioned the timing of the memoir’s publication, noting that the late Biafran leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, had made several public comments about the civil war during his lifetime without receiving a response from Gowon.
“Before Ojukwu died, he made several comments about the Civil War and Gowon never responded,” Ulasi said.
He argued that publishing the memoir after many key figures had died could influence how future generations understand the conflict and risk reopening old wounds.
In the memoir, Gowon said many northern military officers believed Ojukwu had links to the January 1966 coup, defended his emergence as Head of State after the July counter-coup, and maintained that the prevailing circumstances made Brig. Babafemi Ogundipe unsuitable to lead the armed forces at the time. He also said Ojukwu refused to recognise his leadership.
