Nigeria Civil War: Conspiracies and Interest of the World Powers

Nigeria Flag and Biafra flag used between 1967-1970

Obviously, war is a business of interest. Just like the styled Russian invasion of Ukraine over fear of the west domination of the geopolitics of the defunct Soviet union, Nigeria had her fair share of international politicking of how the super powers wrestle for relevance in the post World War II era when the cold war peaked, climaxing into the Nigerian-Biafran Civil war of secession.

As Chinua Achebe summarily spelled out in his book "There was a country", Harold Wilson, the PM of Britain maintained a firm stance about one the Queen's priced colony. UK would not support the breaking away of Nigeria in the guise of secession. That would mean, their preplanned neocolonialism programme would be challenged.

Although, the BBC's Rick fountain in a story on Monday January 3, 2000 titled "secret papers reveals Biafra intrigue," shows how Britain would and currently was more interested in her oil holding than a "united Nigeria". The Cold War would see Britain and the Soviet Union wrestling for the supply of the largest cache of ammunition to General Yakubu Gowon led Federal government. Russia (formerly) USSR took a step further by sending MiG fighters and technical assistance to Nigeria. Moscow later expanded her bilateral relation with Nigeria with an eye on the Ajaokuta Steel Company. A contract of $120 Million Dollars we believed was signed in 1969. The Steel Company situated in present day Kogi State, North Central Nigeria, remained a testament of the nicknamed elephant project without producing steels for the Manufacturing needs of Nigeria up till date. 

UK was however much concerned about France's secret antics.

France, the other big player in the dark colonial days in Africa, was secretly shipping weapons and ammunitions to the Biafran enclave through their former colony of Ivory coast and Gabon. Moreover, France has always been skeptical of Nigeria's growing domination and influence in the West Africa Subregion over the Paris Francophone clients. The Size of Nigeria is obviously intimidating to her french neighbours of Cameroon, Niger, Chad, Benin Republic, and others on the geography of West Africa Subregion.

The Caribbean Island of Haiti was the first to make a rush in her granting of full diplomatic relations with the breakaway Biafra republic in 1969. That means a little to Nigeria anyways. It was however a moment of celebration in Biafra as it rekindled the hope for a sovereign Biafra Republic. 

France who openly claimed to be neutral in her initial response to the crises issued a statement from the Council of Ministers in July, 1968 sympathizing over the heart trembling development from the heartland of Biafra. It was orchestrated by Charles de Gaulle, the French President who led Paris resistance against the Nazis in World War II.

Like UK, it was about resource control. Paris has already hatched a plan for her Multinational corporation, Elf Aquiataine to later become the major explorer of the Crude oil deposit in West Africa. Nigeria's Oil in the old Eastern region would be the spoil of war.

While the war ragged, America openly looked elsewhere, neither supporting Nigeria nor Biafra but advocated for a united "One Nigeria". President Lyndon Johnson towed the line of Britain until Richard Nixon upon assumption of office when he called on the Nigerian Military Forces to cease hostility to ease the suffering in Biafra.

The Portuguese were much clever as they paved a way for Lt. Col. Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu to land Biafran planes in Sao Tome ---a Portuguese colony. The agreement was however shrouded in secrecy.

The Chinese were not left out of the Civil war chesse ongoing in Nigeria. Although, Biafra got most her Weapons from the black market and produced a few locally, China later provided Military equipment to the Breaking away part of Nigeria.

African leaders were not left out. Despite the effort of the organization of Africa Unity (OAU) to reconcile Gowon and Ojukwu, Julius Nyerere of Tanzania on the 13th of April, 1968 openly declared Dar-es-Salam's recognition of the Republic of Biafra. Tanzania was the first African country to take this overt stance. Gabon, Ivory Coast and Zambia would later toe the step of Tanzania.

In sum, it was more about international politics and the crave to have a share of Nigeria's resources in huge oil deposit. The western powers contributed less towards ending the Civil War which later came to a halt in 1970.

Tijani Hassan A. Writes from Kano, Nigeria. He can be reached via tijanihassan2020@gmail.com or Phone, 08140591187