The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) declassified report has revealed how General Yakubu Gowon as Nigeria’s military president did not like nor trust Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1967.
Declassified 1970 CIA file reveal Gowon (left) did not like nor trust Late Pa Awolowo (right)
Gowon and Awolowo were seen as allies, especially as they joined forces to fight Biafran forces during the Nigerian civil war.
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But the document revealed that Awolowo who served as Gowon’s finance minister was not in the good books of his then boss (Gowon).
The report stated: ”As far as Gowon and his constituency are concerned, however, the only question is whether more stories should be created and, if so, how many.
”There is a good chance that the Western state, the homeland of the Yorubas and the power base of Chief Awolowo will be broken up into two or perhaps three states.
”One faction of the Yoruba tribe wants this, but Chief Awolowo opposes it. Gowon does not like nor trust Awolowo, however, and he will probabaly break up the Western state if only to undermine Awolowo.”
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Excerpts from the secret file
The report indicates that all was not well within the inner circles of the Gowon government, but they presented a united front in the public domain.
360naze
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