After that, it will be increasingly difficult to maintain contact between the eastern region and the rest of Nigeria. In the central government, however, Gowon, unlike Ironsi, began to surround himself with politicians who had been ousted from the previous government and who came mostly from the western territories or from areas inhabited by minorities. . All of them, having become fervent federalists, urged Gowon to take tough measures to prevent secession and maintain power in the center.
They certainly had the approval of the British representatives. These, indeed, wish to preserve the unity of Nigeria not only for sentimental and historical reasons, but even more to keep the oil fields under the control of the central government, because the country now supplies Britain with a quarter oil it needs.
Dissuading the Muslim leaders of the northern territories from seceding will be relatively easy. But to restore confidence among the Ibos, withdrawn into themselves, traumatized by the massacres, it will take more than words. Despite the difficulties, agreements were reached at a meeting of military leaders in Ahuri, Ghana, in January 1967. But later, when Gowon returned to Lagos, his advisers persuaded him to repeal the arrangements made at Ahuri.
At the end of May, as tensions mount, Gowon declares that Nigeria will be divided into twelve states, led by a powerful central government. It thus puts an end to the domination of the North and gives satisfaction to the minorities. Significant is the fact that the states proposed to form the eastern region deprive the Ibos of any control over the oil fields. And as you might expect, Ojukwu, a few days later, announces that all the former eastern territories are seceding and will form an independent state which will take the name of Biafra.
A Lagos, it is believed that it will take little to bring the Ibos back into the federation, and on July 7, Gowon announced that a "small police action" was to be taken against Biafra.
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