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European Journal of Social Sciences Studies ISSN: 2501-8590 ISSN-L: 2501-8590 Available on-line at: www.oapub.org/soc doi: 10.5281/zenodo.1098465 Volume 2 │ Issue 9 │ 2017 MIDWIFING NIGERIA’S FRAGILE UNITY: THE ROLE OF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO IN THE NIGERIAN CIVIL WAR Johnson Olaosebikan Aremui PhD, Associate Professor, Department of History and International Studies, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria Abstract: The focus of this paper is to examine the role of Obafemi Awolowo in restoring Nigeria s unity after the ill-fated secession attempt by the Eastern Region on 30 May, 1967. The paper obtained its data extensively from secondary sources. This is made up of books, journal articles, newspaper reports and government publications relevant to the study. It employs the historical method of data analysis in interrogating information obtained. The paper notes that the Nigerian civil war of 1967-1970, a military response to the political conflict between the North and the East, almost ended in a failure. The impasse was, however, resolved through the strategy of starvation and economic blockade initiated by Awolowo which eventually instigated the surrender of Biafra forces to the Federal Government s forces in January, 97 . The paper concludes that Awolowo s ingenuity and strategic advice eventually saved the Nigerian state from imminent decimation and balkanization. His prudent management of the national treasury, as finance minister during the war years, further aided the implementation of the 3Rs post-war programme of reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction. This, no doubt, helped significantly in stabilizing the Nigerian polity after the cessation of hostilities in January, 1970. Keywords: Nigeria, Civil War, Obafemi Awolowo, Biafra, ethnicity, secession 1. Introduction Nigeria s territorial integrity was at the brink of jeopardy barely seven years after her independence. This was due to the declaration of secession of the Eastern region from Copyright © The Author(s). All Rights Reserved. © 2015 – 2017 Open Access Publishing Group 165 Johnson Olaosebikan Aremu MIDWIFING NIGERIA S FRAGILE UNITY: THE ROLE OF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO IN THE NIGERIAN CIVIL WAR Nigeria by Odumegwu Ojukwu on 30 May, 1967; and the subsequent outbreak of civil war on 6 July, 1967. The war shook the Nigerian nation to its foundation and may indeed be regarded as the most potent threat to the survival of the country till date. The war almost ended in a stalemate and the secessionist Republic of Biafra almost became a reality. The reason was that, contrary to expectation, it took the Federal Military Government of Nigeria (FMG) thirty months (6 th July, 1967-15 January, 1970) to curb the insurrection and restore the nation s territorial integrity. This in turn was due to the failure of series of strategies implemented by the FMG to crush the insurrection up till 1968. Incidentally, the subsequent strategy of economic blockade, proposed by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the then Federal Commissioner of Finance and Vice Chairman of Federal Executive Council, proved to be highly effective as the resultant hunger and starvation forced the Biafra Army into quick surrender. Judging from the above, this paper critically examines Obafemi Awolowo s roles before, during and after the Nigerian war of unity. His intervention to prevent the war; the idea of economic blockade during the war, as well as, his role in facilitating the implementation of the post-war policy of reconciliation, reconstruction and rehabilitation are substantially interrogated. For viewing / downloading the full article, please access the following link: https://oapub.org/soc/index.php/EJSSS/article/view/282 European Journal of Social Sciences Studies - Volume 2 │ Issue 9 │ 2017 166