Colonel Olusegun Obasanjo questioned the approach of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to the battle in daring letters he wrote to General Yakubu Gowon, the then-head of state, while the Nigerian civil war was raging. In the final eight months of the war, Colonel Obasanjo led the Nigerian Army’s Third Marine Commando. He would go on to become Head of State (1976–1979) and civilian president (1999–2007). Before the conflict was eventually over, he wrote more than seven personal letters to Yakubu Gowon, the ruler of state at the time.
The war continued unabated until 1969, when it had entered its second year. To invigorate the troops, the Nigerian Army Headquarters in Lagos released new operational directives on May 9, 1969. Three days later, the Army’s three division commanders were revealed to have changed. Colonel Gibson Jalo succeeded Colonel Mohammed Shuwa as the commander of the First Division, Colonel Iliya Bisalla succeeded Colonel Ibrahim Haruna as the commander of the Second Division, and Colonel Obasanjo succeeded Colonel Benjamin Adekunle (also known as Black Scorpion) as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Third Marine Commando. On May 16, Obasanjo, a colonel at the age of 30, arrived in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, to take up his new responsibilities at the front lines of the battle.
Three weeks after arriving in Port Harcourt, Obasanjo reportedly wrote a six-page letter to the head of state on June 10, 1969, according to The Letterman. “I have visited all of my areas of operation in the last three weeks, and I have seen as much of the terrain as I can. While things are not good overall, there is yet possibility for improvement if quick action is done. Since my arrival, I have also attempted to describe in my two presentations the difficult and declining relationship among the 3MCDO officers.
It is equally important to note that there is hope for a better future in this direction. I can say with absolute certainty that the Division’s fighting spirit remains intact, and morale is typically rising, despite numerous inadequacies and… which will be detailed later. Any amount of success, no matter how tiny, will keep spirits high. Next, he pleaded with the president to immediately order Army Headquarters to provide the required manpower and supplies “in order to expedite the conclusion of the war before Armed Forces personnel and civilians become demoralized, frustrated, and dissatisfied.”
Obasanjo specifically requested that General Gowon approve broad mobilization of men in specific age groups and, particularly in the medical and technical fields, during a six-month period during which the war is supposed to end. “We shall perish in an attrition-based war that benefits the insurgents. It is beyond our means,” he declared a concerted attempt to supply enough small arms, sophisticated weaponry, and communication gear for field formations. Here, waiting may be fatal. “I hope that field commanders won’t be left high and dry, vulnerable to the rebels, or forced to fight for their own survival and the lives of the men they are responsible for,” the GOC stated.
“Stricter spending on war materials in the hopes that such measures will destroy the economy while the war lingers on presents a greater economic danger,” he stated. “Overall, we would have spent more money than if we had bought military hardware in large quantities. Let’s make some big purchases.
“To sum up, it is important to firmly assure you that all officers and men of this Division are extremely devoted, loyal, and obedient and are willing to see the war ended as quickly as possible,” he then said to Mr. Gowon. All we ask for is sufficient and prompt logistical support. We’ll thank you when this is finished and let you know when the job is finished. There’s no denying your pride in the boys on the field. These boys are quite good. If given the means, they won’t let their nation down. Any war’s final phase, which demands either victory or loss, can only end in bloodshed. We can acquire this lesson without delving too far into the past. We might as well not have waged the war if we wanted to prevent a deadly conclusion, which is to invite calamity.
Seemingly unsettled by the letter, Mr. Gowon called Mr. Obasanjo to Lagos to have a thorough conversation about his recommendations and the regime’s strategy for bringing the conflict to an end. It’s unclear if Obasanjo received criticism for the letter, but his subsequent correspondence with Army headquarters and the President of State suggests that he was furious when he returned from Lagos. In a follow-up letter to Mr. Gowon dated July 28, 1969, Mr. Obasanjo bemoaned the regime’s apparent lack of understanding and the general lack of seriousness” in handling both the war and the nation’s issues at large.
He penned:
Dear General,
Following my meeting with you and the COS (Army) last week, and after we discussed my letter GOC/3MCDO/1 of July 17, 1969, I feel compelled to share my thoughts with you. The fact that none of us in uniform appear to be able to comprehend the consequences and ramifications of the current civil war is very depressing. I addressed you with great seriousness, aware of my obligations and allegiance to the nation and to you. I was astounded by our general lack of sincerity and apparent lack of knowledge when it came to solving our problems.
If our inaction, ignorance, or both cause us to lose this fight and fail to accomplish our goals, it will be the greatest betrayal of this nation and an unforgivable sin against humanity. It is inconceivable to suggest that we do not have the funds to purchase the military equipment necessary to carry out this war to a successful conclusion. It wouldn’t hurt to take out a loan to save this nation and leave a worthwhile legacy for future generations. The costs of the First and Second World Wars, respectively, are still being borne by the French and the British. They were successful and accrued debt in each instance. To yet, we have not pledged any of our natural resources or goods as collateral for cash. I’m confident that enough money can be gathered domestically to purchase the military equipment required to win the war.
We haven’t looked into the possibilities of receiving financing from institutions and groups having an interest in Nigeria’s business and industry yet. If we fall short of our goal, all the bluster about not having borrowed a single dime to finance the war will mean nothing. Losing the war and trying to save the economy will not work out well. I firmly believe that we should be able to obtain any military weaponry we need, either directly or indirectly, provided the funding and dynamic direction are made accessible. Because of our achievements in the industry, we have been able to slightly sway public opinion throughout the globe thus far. Certainly, a protracted lull or the opposite will be detrimental to us. We can use the current perceived favorable (or at least better than at the start of the year) global opinion to our advantage to obtain what we need. A protracted civil war may also alter the sentiment of the Nigerian populace.
Human resources are available and only need to be utilized. It’s not a very joyful scenario, to judge from what’s going on in my own sphere of influence. I also don’t think the other two categories are doing all that well in their region. Our good fortune has served us well for a while, but we should never rely only on it in the absence of proactive measures. If anything, God’s purpose for this nation is the reason He has, in His boundless kindness, provided for us up to this point. We appeared to be unsure about our purpose and mission. We appear to be blindly stumbling around in the dark with no clear direction or goal. If we have a goal and a direction, I’m sure we can succeed. The nation must be shaken out of her apparent complacency.
I will say it again to keep you from getting bored: in order to do the duty, I have been given, I need personnel and materials. I hope to live up to the faith and confidence you have placed in me. I also don’t want to let the boys under my leadership down or require them to be needless lambs for sacrifice.
I have written to you based on my experience in the field and in the back regions, as well as my sincere care for this country and the highest regard I have for you and your office.
Yours Ever,
O. Obasanjo.