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According to a report by Daily Post on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd.), has disclosed details of how former President Olusegun Obasanjo initially resisted serving under Colonel Murtala Muhammed during Nigeria’s Civil War of 1957–1960.
Gowon made the disclosure in his 859-page autobiography, My Life of Duty and Allegiance, where he revisited several moments that shaped his military career and his relationship with Obasanjo over the years.
The account appears in Chapter 14 of the book, titled “No Going Back,” which was unveiled on Tuesday in Abuja.
In the chapter, Gowon traced the events that followed his decision to set up a Rear Command for the newly created 2 Division, which was under the leadership of Murtala Muhammed, and to appoint Obasanjo as Rear Commander in Ibadan.
Gowon explained that the arrangement did not sit well with Obasanjo, who objected to being placed under Murtala’s command structure.
According to the former military ruler, Obasanjo believed that he was senior to Murtala and should therefore not be expected to take instructions from him.
The disagreement, he said, arose from Obasanjo’s firm view about military hierarchy and seniority at the time.
He noted that the issue became more pronounced when Obasanjo made it clear that he was not prepared to serve in that position under Murtala Muhammed.
Gowon said the resistance was strong and direct, but he maintained his decision, insisting that the deployment was necessary for the operation and that the responsibilities of the office required a suitable officer to be posted there.
Gowon further explained that, as Commander-in-Chief, he had the power to assign officers to any post where their services were required most.
He said the appointment was made in the interest of the military structure and the demands of the war period, and not on the basis of personal preference.
He also said the role was eventually accepted and Obasanjo carried out his duties effectively after the matter was settled.
The former head of state also reflected on the earlier years of his relationship with Obasanjo, saying it began in 1958 when both men were undergoing officer training in the United Kingdom.
Gowon recalled that when he arrived in London with very little money, Obasanjo assisted him financially, a gesture he said left a lasting impression on him and deepened his interest in Obasanjo’s progress and career.
“That singular act made me take more interest in Obasanjo and what he did,” Gowon stated, adding that he became Obasanjo’s informal guardian angel.
He strongly stated that he would never serve under Colonel Murtala Muhammed for any reason,” Gowon wrote.
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