Fresh Insight Into Civil War Politics as Gowon Reveals Obasanjo–Murtala Command Rift

Gowon said Obasanjo opposed the arrangement, insisting he would not serve under an officer he considered junior to him.

He made the disclosure in Chapter 14 of his 859-page autobiography, My Life of Duty and Allegiance, launched in Abuja on Tuesday, in a chapter titled “No Going Back.”

According to Gowon, he had set up a Rear Command structure for the newly created 2 Division under Murtala Muhammed, with Obasanjo expected to serve as Rear Commander in Ibadan during the war.

The role would have required Obasanjo to coordinate logistics, relief supplies, reinforcements, and general security operations in the Western Region.

However, Gowon said Obasanjo resisted the posting, arguing that the arrangement placed him in a subordinate position under Murtala Muhammed.

Gowon wrote, “He believed he was more senior and should not be expected to serve under his junior.”

He added that Obasanjo strongly maintained he would not serve under Murtala Muhammed in any capacity.

Gowon said he eventually overruled the objection as Commander-in-Chief, insisting he had the authority to deploy officers where they were most needed.

He explained that Obasanjo’s duty was not to act as Murtala’s deputy but to ensure security in the Western Region, after which Obasanjo complied with the directive.

According to Gowon, Obasanjo later performed effectively in the assignment and demonstrated loyalty in key wartime decisions.

He also recalled that Obasanjo resisted pressure allegedly linked to Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, concerning the movement of Col. Victor Banjo through the Western Region during the conflict.

Gowon said Obasanjo’s handling of the situation impressed him and reflected a strong sense of duty.

The former Head of State further traced his relationship with Obasanjo to their training days in the United Kingdom in 1958, where Obasanjo reportedly assisted him financially during a difficult period.

He said that gesture earned Obasanjo his trust and led him to take a personal interest in his military career.

Gowon described himself as having acted as a mentor figure, stating that he later supported Obasanjo’s rise within the military hierarchy.

He also described Obasanjo as a disciplined and intelligent officer, though he noted differences in temperament compared to some of his contemporaries.

In the same memoir, Gowon explained his decision to appoint Murtala Muhammed as commander of the 2 Division, describing him as a courageous and highly committed officer.

However, he noted that Murtala sometimes struggled with emotional restraint during operations.

Gowon also reflected on broader civil war dynamics, including allegations involving foreign support for the Biafran side and intelligence gathered through diplomatic channels during the conflict.