Former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, revealed that the refusal of the United States and Britain to supply weapons to Nigeria early in the Civil War forced his administration to buy arms from the Soviet Union and a Lebanese black-market businessman.
Gowon said the intervention from both sources eventually helped Nigeria turn the tide during the three-year civil war, which lasted from July 1967 to January 1970.
This revelation was made public on Tuesday during the Abuja launch of his 859-page autobiography, titled “My Life of Duty and Allegiance”.
President Bola Tinubu was represented at the launch by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The autobiography, spanning 36 chapters, chronicles Gowon’s life from his upbringing in Plateau State to his military career, the Nigerian civil war, his removal from office in 1975 and his years in exile and academic pursuits.
In the chapter titled “If The Devil’s Ready To Help,” Gowon detailed the severe ammunition shortages faced by the Nigerian Army in late 1968, revealing that the military’s stockpile had dropped to about half a million rounds.
He explained that the dwindling supplies were worsened by restrictions placed on international arms sales to Nigeria by Western countries.
“As the weeks of fighting wore on, our stock of ammunition was steadily depleted by these wastes, and we could not replenish them because international sales restrictions prevented suppliers from selling military hardware to Nigeria.
“Left with no choice, I ordered the Federal troops to hold their position after the capture of Enugu up to Okigwe and Umuahia because I could not, in clear conscience, commit them to further advance knowing that the ammunition to sustain the effort was in short supply,” he wrote.
Gowon said he was disappointed by the attitude of the United States and Britain, especially as both countries were simultaneously intensifying military operations in Vietnam and Cambodia.
The former Head of State recalled summoning the British and American ambassadors for what he described as one of the most critical meetings of the war.
About the meeting, he said, “If I say I’m not disappointed, it will be an understatement.
“I, however, left them in no doubt that I had a duty and responsibility to keep Nigeria united and safe for all Nigerians and other nationals resident in Nigeria.
“As they were about to enter their cars, preparatory to leaving the State House, I said, if I say I’m not disappointed, it will be an understatement, so I will go to any devil to get what I need to deal with the problem, to do my duty to my country, and when that happens, I hope I will not be accused of doing something wrong.”
According to Gowon, the ambassadors left without making any commitments.
He subsequently directed his Principal Secretary, Hamza Ahmadu, to establish contact with the Soviet Ambassador, Aleksandr Romanov, at Dodan Barracks.
Gowon explained that he believed Soviet support could pressure Britain and the United States into reconsidering their stance.
A Nigerian delegation led by Anthony Enahoro, Edwin Ogbu, Emmanuel George Kurubo and Ambassador John Ukegbu was then dispatched to Moscow.
“The Soviet Union supplied us some MiG-15 trainers and MiG-17 bombers for the meeting, which was a huge success,” he wrote.
He added that Nigeria’s relationship with the Soviet Union became “special” after the war because of the support received during the conflict.
Beyond Soviet assistance, Gowon revealed that a Lebanese businessman identified as Ali Jamal also played a major role in helping Nigeria secure military supplies through black-market channels.
According to him, Jamal personally financed the procurement of arms and ammunition at a time the Nigerian government lacked the funds to make immediate payments.
“Jamal was not deterred even after I told him that I had no money with which to make immediate payments for the purchases.
“He told me not to worry and that he would use his own money to provide the ammunition we needed but would want to be reimbursed interest-free at the shortest possible time.
“With his support, we were able to get some of the hardware and the ammunition we needed to change the face of the war,” Gowon wrote.
The former military ruler also recounted opposition from then Finance Commissioner, Obafemi Awolowo, who reportedly refused to authorise payment to Jamal because due process had not been followed and that the expenditure was outside the approved budget.
“I was aghast because it suddenly appeared to me that the Finance Commissioner and others at the FEC did not understand the depth of the problem I was in to ensure the survival of the men in the field and that war was successfully prosecuted,” Gowon said.
He further recalled telling Awolowo: “I’m afraid I’ll want to use my powers and authority, which I think I can do as Head of State and Head of Government, to give any department the order to do what is required to be done.”
Reflecting on the disagreement, Gowon said, “Although I used anger and the power of my office to win the argument and retain the integrity of the nation with my friend, I felt proud of my team that always insisted on following due process to justify every action and every expenditure. Jamal subsequently was paid in full.”
On his relationship with the late Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, Gowon wrote that northern military officers believed Ojukwu was complicit in the January 1966 coup d’etat, executed by officers mostly of Igbo origin, which saw the killing of key northern leaders and military officers, and wanted to move against him.
