Who re-organised the Nigeria's four regions into twelve states in May 1967?

Analyze the question: The question asks who created the twelve states out of Nigeria's four regions (North, West, East, Mid-West) in May 1967.

Explain the concept: Before 1967, Nigeria operated with four regions: Northern, Western, Eastern, and the Mid-Western (created in 1963). After the January 1966 coup and the July 1966 counter-coup, Lt-Col Yakubu Gowon became Head of State. Tension with the Eastern Region, led by Lt-Col Odumegwu Ojukwu, grew worse after the Aburi talks (January 1967) failed to settle matters.

Step-by-step solution:

1. On 27 May 1967, Gowon, as Head of the Federal Military Government, issued Decree No. 14 creating twelve states: six in the North and six in the South.
2. The new states were: North-Central, North-Eastern, North-Western, Kano, Benue-Plateau, Kwara (North); and Lagos, Western, Mid-Western, East-Central, South-Eastern, Rivers (South).
3. The aim was to break up the dominance of the big regions and win over minority groups, especially in the East, to weaken the secessionist push.
4. Ojukwu responded by declaring the Republic of Biafra on 30 May 1967, which led to the civil war (1967–1970).

Checking the other options:

• B. Ojukwu: He led the secession and was Military Governor of the East. He did not create the states.
• C. Philip Effiong: He was Ojukwu's deputy and later announced Biafra's surrender in 1970.
• D. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa: He was the Prime Minister killed in the January 1966 coup, so he was already dead by 1967.

Answer: A. General Yakubu Gowon

Exam tip: Remember "Gowon = 12 states = 1967." The states were created on 27 May and Biafra was declared three days later, on 30 May. Also remember that Murtala Mohammed created 7 more states in 1976 (making 19). This sequence of state creation shows up often in JAMB.