385.  Gowon: interview, 12 October 2007.

  386.  Report by Major-Gen. H.T. Alexander, British Representative on the International Observer Team in Nigeria, January 1970; Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, King’s College London.

  387.  Observer Team to Nigeria, report to Federal Government of Nigeria, 12 February 1970; Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, King’s College London.

  388.  De St Jorre (1972), p. 306.

  389.  Ojukwu: interview, 25 March 2008.

  390.   Newsweek, 24 March 1969.

  391.   The Times, 12 March 1969: A British Observer’s view of the Nigerian War.

  392.   Daily Telegraph, 12 March 1969.

  Chapter 6 Gowon and Ojukwu: An Appraisal of the Two Leaders

  393.  Gowon: interview, 20 September 2008.

  394.  FCO/Prem13/1661, 11 November 1966.

  395.  Gbulie: interview, 14 September 2007. Also quoted in Gbulie (1981), p. 71.

  396.  Gowon interview, 12 October 2007 His comments were that, although hindsight is a wonderful thing, he would definitely have tried to accommodate the East’s objectives more sympathetically. Ojukwu interview, 25 March 2008. He said that, in retrospect his reactions at the time were too impulsive, but in his defence he was carried along by the attitude for secession by the East’s Consultative Committee.

  397.  W.F. Gutteridge, Military Regimes in Africa 1966–1974 (Ibadan: Spectrum Books, 1979), pp. 133–7.

  398.  Gowon: interview, 12 October 2007. I first met Gowon when I was a young man of 17, when I was asked to collect him from his military mess and drive him to our home so that he could babysit for my sister. We struck up a good friendship and we would frequently challenge each other to a game of squash.

  399.  Kirk-Greene: interview, 2008.

  400.  Gowon: interview, 12 October 2007.

  401.  Gowon: interview, 5 November 2008. Dr James Eneje, an Igbo contemporary at Warwick University, confirmed this story. He also went on to confirm Nigeria’s indignation when a press report featured Gowon in a refectory queue with other undergraduates for lunch, indicating the modesty of the man.

  402.  Last: interview, 8 April 2008.

  403.  Uwechue (1971), p. 94.

  404.  Ojukwu: interview, 25 March 2008.

  405.  Ojukwu: interview, 25 March 2008.

  406.  Forsyth: interview, 12 April 2007.

  407.  Forsyth: interview, 12 April 2007; Hunt, Lady Iro: interview, 27 April 2008.

  408.  Uwechue (1971), p.132.

  409.  Oyewole (1975), p.183.

  410.  Elaigwu, Gowon (1986), p. 27.

  411.  Elaigwu, Gowon (1986), p. 27.

  412.  Gowon: interview, 12 October 2007.

  413.  Cabinet Office, 7933(a) 1968; National Archives, Kew. From a letter by Martin Dent, lecturer at Keele University, and formerly a District Officer in the Tiv Region of Nigeria; dated 17 March 1968.

  414.  Gowon (1986), p. 21.

  415.  Gowon (1986), p. 31.

  416.  Gowon: interview, 12 October 2007. He commented that a certain regimental sergeant-major found ‘Yakabu’ just too tongue-twisting and ‘Jack’ much easier.

  417.  Gowon: interview, 12 October 2007.

  418.  Elaigwu, Gowon (1986), p. 72.

  419.  Danjuma: interview, 12 April 2007.

  420.  Gowon: interview, 12 October 2007.

  421.  Ojukwu (1969), p. 11.

  422.  Gowon: interview, 12 October 2007.

  423.  Gowon: interview, 12 October 2007.

  424.  Burrows: interview, 22 March 2009.

  425.  Burrows: interview, 22 March 2009.

  426.  Ojukwu: interview, 25 March 2008.

  427.  Burrows: interview, 22 March 2009.

  428.  Ojukwu: interview, 25 March 2008.

  429.  Ojukwu: interview, 25 March 2008.

  430.  Ojukwu: interview, 25 March 2008.

  431.  Ojukwu: interview, 25 March 2008.

  432.  Ojukwu: interview, 25 March 2008. Even today he blames Gowon for his inability to suppress the riots and killings of Igbo people following the second coup.

  433.  Ojukwu: interview, 25 March 2008; Gowon: interview, 12 October 2007.

  434.  Gowon: interview, 12 October 2007. He said that the Nigerian Army was his life and it was obvious from his tone that he has great affection for it. He said that he was really very ill-suited for career in politics, it did not motivate him and he found the intrigue and compromise did not suit his straightforward temperament.

  435.  Gbulie: interview, 14 September 2007.

  436.  FCO, Doc 25/232, National Archives, Kew.

  437.  Iro Hunt: interview. In view of her own disparaging comments about Ojukwu, a question should perhaps be posed about the triangular relationship between Hunt, Lady Hunt and Ojukwu. Could it have been that Hunt, the British High Commissioner, had allowed personal relationships to interfere with his professional life? This suggestion is based on the fact, mentioned before, of the close relationship this small group of elite people had in the mid-1960s in Nigeria; it was perhaps almost incestuous.

  438.  Ojukwu (1989), p. 5.

  439.  Kirk-Greene (1971), Vol. 1, Doc 37.

  440.  Gowon: interview, 20 September 2008.

  441.  Cumming-Bruce: interview, 12 April 2007.

  442.  Ojukwu: interview, 25 March 2008.

  443.  Ojukwu (1969), p. 177.

  444.  Kirk-Greene (1971), p. 318. It is interesting to note that it was not until the Aburi meeting that discussion took place about the fate of General Ironsi. Ojukwu informed the writer that in fact he had already been told about Ironsi’s and Fajuyi’s fates.

  445.  Ojukwu: interview, 25 March2008.

  446.  Gowon: interview, 20 September 2008.

  447.  Gowon and Cumming-Bruce: interview, 10 April 2007.

  448.  FCO Doc 38/213, National Archives, Kew.

  449.  Ojukwu: interview, 25 March 2008.

  450.  Forsyth (1969), p.110.

  451.  Ojukwu: interview, 25 March 2008.

  452.  Achuzia: interview, 28 March 2008.

  453.  Ojukwu: interview, 25 March 2008.

  454.  Achuzia: interview, 28 March 2008.

  455.  Madiebo (1980), p.167.

  456.  Dent, Martin, lecturer at Keele University, former District Officer, Tiv, Nigeria: letter to Wilson, British Prime Minister, 17 March 1968; National Archives, Cabinet Office Doc 7933(a).

  457.  Address given by Dr V.S.O. Olunloyo at a reception for Brig.-Gen. Benjamin Adekunle, at Lautech, Ogbomoso, Nigeria, on Saturday 11 April 2009. Quoted from A Combatant in Government , Chapter 3, by Major-Gen. David Jemibewon.

  458.  De St Jorre (1972), pp. 282, 283.

  459.  Gowon: interview, 12 October 2007.

  460.  Dent, letter to Wilson.

  461.  Gowon: interview, 20 September 2008.

  462.  Elaigwu, Gowon (1986), p. 120.

  463.  Gowon: interview, 20 September 2008.

  464.  Cronje, S., The World and Nigeria (London: Sedgwick and Jackson, 1972), p. 221.

  465.  Saro-Wiwa (1989), p. 203.

  466.  FCO 38/267, file note 16, National Archive, Kew.

  467.  Ojukwu: interview, 25 March 2008; Leapman: interview, 10 June 2007.

  468.  Ojukwu: interview, 25 March 2008.

  469.  Gowon: interview, 12 October 2007.

  470.  Dent, letter to Wilson, 17 March 1968. National Archives, Kew.

  471.  Writer’s visits to Ojukwu’s home: he was very conscious of the regular presence of Holy Fathers from the local Christian community.

  472.  Gowon: interview, 12 October 2007; Ojukwu: interview, 25 March 2008.

  Chapter 7 Conclusion

  473.  Kirk-Greene (1971), vol. 1, p. 5.

  474.  See Appendix.

  475.  Ojukwu: interview, 25 March 2008.

  476.  Achuzia: interview, 28 March 2008.

  477.  British High Commission, Lagos, to FCO, 14 December 1967. FCO Doc 51/169, Public Records Office, Kew.

  478.  Perkins, N.C. and James, E.S., The Nigeria-Biafra War; Minorities in Biafra (two memoranda, typewritten, 1969), MS Afr.S. 1927/1/2, Rhodes House Library, Oxford, p. 63.

  479.  Anowai, Alfred, Sqd-Ldr: interview, 18 February 2007.

  480.  Cumming-Bruce: interview, 10 April 2007.

  481.  Adebayo: interview, 12 March 2008.

  482.  Kirk-Greene (1971), p. 54.

  483.  See photograph in Appendix.

  484.  Ojukwu: interview, 25 March 2008.

  485.  Gowon: interview, 12 October 2007.

  486.  Dike, 100 Years of British Rule in Nigeria 1851–1951 (Lagos: 1957), p. 43.

  487.  From a conversation between Sam Ademulegun, an indigenous Nigerian Army officer, and John Gould, the author’s father, held in 1958.

  488.  Gbulie: interview, 14 September 2007.

  489.  See Appendix, copy document.

  490.  Question asked of many interviewees from the East, 2007–8.

  491.  British High Commission, Lagos, to FCO, London, 14 December 1968. FCO Doc. 38/285, National Archives, Kew.

  492.  Achuzia, Gbulie and Ojukwu: interviews, 2008.

  493.  FCO 38/247, Public Records Office, Kew.

  494.  Gowon: interview, 12 October 2007.

  495.  FCO Report on Nigeria, 9 November 1968. FCO 186/9, Public Records Office, Kew.

  496.  Hunt (1990), p. 261.

  497.  Hunt (1990), p. 261.

  498.  Gowon: interview, 12 October 2007.

  499.  Hunt (1990), p. 256; conversation between Jim Parker, British Assistant High Commissioner, and Ojukwu, Enugu.

  500.  Forsyth (1969), p. 116.

  501.  Within the first year and a half of the war the official contributions to Nigerian relief aid made by eighteen governments, mainly from Western Europe and America, amounted to £20,812,000. Throughout the entire war period the British Government subscribed nearly £3.49 million to the cost of relief in Nigeria, and considerable sums were also received from British voluntary organisations. FCO Doc. 51/169, Public Records Office, Kew.

  502.  FCO Doc. 38/246, Public Records Office, Kew.

  503.   The Guardian, 3 October 1968.

  504.   The Guardian, 3 October 1968.

  505.  FCO Doc. 38/246, Public Records Office, Kew.

  506.  Report by International Observer Team, January 1970; Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, King’s College London.

  507.  Report by international commission of jurists on evidence of genocide, brought by the Biafran Government. The report was made in Paris on 22–3 March 1968, and was chaired by Professor Lopez-Ray, a distinguished international jurist. The committee said there was a prima facie case of genocide against the Biafrans; MS Afrs 2399, Britain-Biafra Association, Rhodes House Library, Oxford, pp. 81–9.

  508.   Genocide: a documentary diary , Directorate of Propaganda, November 1968; Enugu Archives PD/X13.

  509.  Ojukwu: interview, 25 March 2008.

  510.  Gowon: interview, 12 October 2007.

  Epilogue

  511.  Emezue, Sydney: interview, 25 August 2007; lecturer in politics at Enugu University, and Biafran war veteran.

  512.  Ikeazor (1997), p. 3.

  513.  Gowon: interview, 12 October 2007.

  514.   The Times , 14 October 2009.

  515.  Ojukwu: interview, 25 March 2008.

  516.  FCO Doc. 51/169, Public Records Office, Kew.

  517.  Achuzia: interview, 28 March 2008, and Adekunle: interview, 28 September 2008.

  518.  Brierly: interview, 18 January 2008.

  519.  Last: interview, 12 February 2008.

  520.  Hunt (1990), p. 264.

  521.  Danjuma: interview, 2007.

  522.  Email from Ben Gbulie to author, 2009.

  523.  Achuzia: telephone interview, August 2009.

  524.   The Daily Sun , Lagos, Friday 24 August 2007.

  Postscript

  525.  This state of affairs was confirmed during a meeting of teachers and administrators, in Enugu, with the author, during a visit, in June 2007 and confirmed by Dr James Eneje, an Igbo and boy soldier during the civil war May 2011.

  526.   Daily Independent , 15 January 2006.

  527.   Daily Independent , 23 December 2003.

  BIBLIOGRAPHY

  PRIMARY SOURCES

  Unpublished Oral Interviews

  Achuzia, Joe. Col. Biafran Army. Interviewed on 28 March 2008.

  Achuzia, Joesephine. Ex-wife of Joe Achuzia. Interviewed on 25 January 2007.

  Achuzia, Simon. Son of Joe Achuzia. Interviewed 20 November 2008.

  Adebayo, Robert, Maj-Gen. Nigerian Army and Governor of Western Region during the war. Interviewed on 12 March 2008.

  Adekunle, Benjamin, Brig.-Gen. Nigerian Army. Interviewed on 28 September 2008.

  Anowai, Alfred, Sqd-Ldr. Biafran Airforce. Interviewed on 14 September 2007.

  Brierly, Tim. West African Field Director, Oxfam. Interviewed on 21 February 2008.

  Bell, Martin. BBC correspondent. Interviewed on 16 April 2007.

  Burrows, Julia. Daughter of the managing director of Richard Costain Ltd. Interviewed on 22 March 2009.

  Clark, Edwin, Chief. Former minister in Gowon’s administration and Delta Region activist. Interviewed on 8 July 2008.

  Cummings-Bruce, Francis, Lord Thurloe. British High Commisioner, during first and second coup. Interviewed on 10 April 2007.

  Danjuma, T.Y, Lt-Gen. Nigerian Army. Interviewed on 14 April 2007.

  Doble, Denis. FCO official in Biafra in 1970. Interviewed on 10 April 2007. Edwards, Pamela. School friend of Ojukwu’s. Interviewed on 20 February 2009.

  Emezue, Sydney. Professor and soldier in Biafran Army. Interviewed on 25 August 2007.

  Eneje, James, Dr. Boy recruit to Biafran Organisation of Freedom Fighters. Interviewed on 5 November 2008.

  Gowon, Jack, Maj-Gen. Nigerian Army and Nigerian Head of State. Interviewed on 12 October 2007.

  Hunt, Iro, Lady. Wife of Sir David Hunt, British High Commissioner after Cummings-Bruce. Interviewed on 17 February 2008.

  Ferreira, Dr. Lt-Col. Nigerian Army. Chief medical officer for 4th division Nigerian Army. Interviewed on 20 September 2007.

  Forsyth, Frederick. Writer and journalist. Interviewed on 12 April 2007.

  Gbulie, Ben, Lt-Col. Biafran Army and writer. Interviewed on 14 September 2007.

  Ikeazor, Chukwudum. Writer and ex-Nigerian policeman. Interviewed on 15 May 2007.

  Kirk-Greene, Tony. Fellow St Anthony’s College, Oxford. Interviewed on 12 February 2008.

  Last, Murray. Emeritus Professor, London University. Interviewed 8 March 2008.

  Leapman, Michael. Reporter, The Sun . Interviewed on 20 June 2007.

  Nwankwo, Rev. Fr. Boy recruit to Biafran Organisation of Freedom Fighters. Interviewed on 19 June 2008.

  Nwobosi, Emanuel, Col. Biafran Army. Interviewed on 24 March 2008.

  Ojukwu, Emmeka, General. Biafran Army and Biafran Head of State. Interviewed on 25 March 2008.

  Okafor, Ben. Actor, writer, Boy recruit to Biafran Organisation of Freedom Fighters. Interviewed on 20 February 2008.

  Okafor, David, Col. Biafran Army. Interviewed on 21 September 2007.

  Onyefueu, Godwin, Major. Biafran Army. Interviewed on 21 September 2007.

  Thomson, David. Retired Maj-Gen British Army. Interviewed on 20 April 2008.

  Ujam, Chief, Capt. Biafran Army. Interviewed on 19 September 2007.

  Whiteman, Kaye. Writer, journalist. Interviewed on 22 March 2007.

  Watson, Simon. Retired bank manager. Employee of Bank of British West Africa, Kaduna. Interviewed on 20 March 2007.

  Unpublished documents

  Foreign and Commonwealth documents from the National Archives Kew. FCO 13/1661

  FCO 25/232

  FCO 51/157/159

  FCO 38/211/213/214/244/246/247/268/270/285

  FCO 186/9

  FCO 221/45

  FCO 8239/5/6/8

  Cabinet Office 7933(A)

  Federal Republic papers, National Archives, Enugu.

  FRP/1 Lewis (1968)

  PD/X13

  Published documents

  James Wild, Time Magazine 23 August1968/26 Jan 1970

  Kaye Whiteman, A Last Look at Biafra (London: Inter play, 1070)

  Stephen Lewis, Journey To Biafra (Canada: Thistle Publisher, 1968) National Archives Enugu.

  Peter Symes, Bank Notes of Biafra (International Bank Note Society, Vol36, No4, 1997)

  Report by Maj-Gen HT Alexander on The International Observer Team. Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, Kings College, London

  Report by Lt-Col RE Scott, Appreciation of the Nigerian Conflict 13 December 1969. Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, Kings College, London

  Address given by Dr VSO Olunloyo on 11 April 2009 for Brig B Adekunle’s birthday, from the personal collection of Michael Adekunle. Quoted from A Combatant in Government. Ch3 by Maj-Gen. Jemibewon.

  Report by international commission of jurists on genocide, during the Nigerian Civil War. MSS Afrs 2399 Britain-Nigeria Association, Rhodes House Library, Oxford.

  Memoranda by NC Perkins and ES James, The Nigeria-Biafran War 1969. MS Afrs 1927/1/2 Rhodes House Library, Oxford

  SECONDARY SOURCES

  Autobiographies of Participants in the War

  Achuzia, JOG., Requiem Biafra (Enugu: Fourth Dimension, 1986)

  Adebayo, R., Onward Soldier Marches On (Ibadan: Evans Brothers, 1998)

  Awolowo, O., Awo The Autobiography of Chief Obafemi Awolowo (Cambridge University Press, 1960)

  Efiong, I., Reintegration True or False (Enugu: Star Printing and Publishing Company Ltd, 1983)

  Ejoor, D., Reminiscences (Lagos: Malthouse Press, 1989)

  Gbulie, B., Nigeria’s Five Majors, Coup d’etat of 15 January 1966, First Inside Account (Onitsha: African Educational Publisher Ltd, 1981)

  Gbuli, B., The Fall of Nigeria (Enugu: Benlie Publishers, 1989)