GOWON FIRED THE FIRST SHOT AT GAKEM IN EASTERN REGION

GOWON FIRED THE FIRST SHOT AT GAKEM IN EASTERN REGION TO BEGIN THE POLICE ACTION AND FOLLOWED BY THE CIVIL WAR

Late Oba Erediuwa of Benin (Prince Solomon Akenzua) attended the Aburi meeting held at the Peduase lodge where the conflict of Nigeria was discussed between January 4th and January 5th 1967. He was a permanent-under secretary of the Federal Cabinet. He raised a memo to Gowon on the advice of British Intelligence to keep Nigeria one, revealing the massive potential of oil and gas deposits in the old eastern region. The memo was dated January 8 1967.

He summoned other attendees like Alhaji Yusuf Gobir, Phillip Asiodu, Ime Ebong, and Allison Ayida in Lagos, and deconstructed all that was agreed to in Aburi. On February 16 and 18 1967, Gowon summoned a meeting of all secretaries of govt with all military governments in Benin, on advise of Solomon Akenzua. The meeting was headed by H.A Ejueyitchie.

They agreed to renege on everything said in Aburi . Ojukwu refused and started the slogan "On Aburi I stand"...Gowon refused and replied him with Decree No. 8 of 1967 vesting all powers on the FG. Ojukwu wrote Gowon a letter on February 16, 1967 to revert to Aburi accord and not cause problems.

On May 3, 1967, Governor of western region, Col Robert Adeyinka Adebayo made a broadcast confirming that Aburi accord is causing arguments and impairing their confidence and subtly confirming alignment with Gowon's Decree No. 8. So, Ojukwu met with Eastern consultative assembly on May 27, 1967, giving the update of Gowons position.

Ojukwu and Gowon went Back and forth leading to breakdown of diplomacies. .Ojukwu threatened stalemate and non-compliance to Decree 8. Gowon declared a 2 weeks police action on Eastern Region, and on 6th July 1967, Gowon fired shots in Gakem in Eastern Region to commence Police action,. Thus began the civil war which ended 3 years later.