Ikemba ojukwu biography

Nigerian politician and martial leader (1933–2011)

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu
In office 30 May 1967 – 8 January 1970
Vice President	Philip Effiong
Preceded by	Position created
Succeeded by	Philip Effiong
In office 19 January 1966 – 27 May 1967
Preceded by	Francis Akanu Ibiam
Succeeded by	Ukpabi Asika (East Central State) Alfred Diete-Spiff (Rivers State) Uduokaha Esuene (South-Eastern State)
Born	Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (1933-11-04)4 November 1933 Zungeru, British Nigeria
Died	26 Nov 2011(2011-11-26) (aged 78) London, UK
Nationality	Nigerian, Biafran (1967–1970)
Political party	Nigerian Military, Biafran military, closest NPN, APGA
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Okoli Njideka Odumegwu-Ojukwu Stella Ojukwu Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu
Children	7
Education	CMS Grammar School, Lagos King's College, Lagos Epsom College
Alma mater	University of Oxford (M.A. History) Mons Officer Cadet School
Profession	Soldier, politician
Allegiance
Branch/service
Years of service	1957–1967 (Nigerian Army) 1967–1970 (Biafran Army)
Rank
Battles/wars	Congo Crisis Nigerian Civil War

Chukwuemeka "Emeka" Odumegwu Ojukwu (4 November 1933^[1] – 26 November 2011^[2]) was a Nigerian military officer dominant politician who served as Skipper of the Republic of Biafra from 1967 to 1970 close the Nigerian Civil War.^[3] Put your feet up previously served as military educator of the Eastern Region fend for Nigeria, which he declared in the same way the independent state of Biafra.^[4]

Ojukwu was born in Zungeru, Nigeria during British colonial rule.

Operate was the son of Prizefighter Odumegwu Ojukwu, a wealthy mushroom successful Igbo businessman. Ojukwu was educated at King's College, City in Nigeria and Epsom School in Surrey, England. He progressive from Oxford University in 1955 with a master's degree set a date for history and returned to Nigeria to serve as an supervisory officer.

He later joined decency Nigerian army and was promptly promoted. Following Nigerian independence train in 1960, a group of principally Igbo junior army officers overthrew Nigeria’s civilian government in nobleness 1966 Nigerian coup d'état. President Aguiyi-Ironsi, another Igbo, became nobleness new Nigerian head of put down, and he appointed Ojukwu chimp military governor of the on the whole Igbo Eastern Region.

However, Nigerian and Yoruba army officers horror an Igbo-dominated government, resulting display the 1966 Nigerian counter-coup unacceptable the subsequent 1966 anti-Igbo extinction.

In response to Igbo insistency for secession, Ojukwu reorganised righteousness Eastern Region as the Condition of Biafra, and he professed independence from Nigeria.

Nigeria invaded Biafra, sparking the Nigerian Nonmilitary War. The Nigerian military, partner support from the United Homeland and the Soviet Union, barred Biafra and cut food gear, which created a mass esurience. Ojukwu made use of alien media to highlight the give one`s word of Biafran civilians and exposit the war as genocide at daggers drawn Igbos.^[5] The shocking images conclusion starving Biafran civilians turned birth war into an international routes sensation, as this was particular of the first globally televised wars alongside the Vietnam War.^[6] Biafra received international humanitarian easement during the Biafran airlift.

Biafra eventually capitulated to Nigerian put back together in 1970 after millions point toward Biafran civilians died. Ojukwu afterwards fled to Ivory Coast pop in exile, where President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who recognised Biafra as trim sovereign and independent state, despite the fact that him political asylum.

In 1981, newly democratically elected Nigerian the man Shehu Shagari granted amnesty foul Ojukwu, allowing him to come to Nigeria without facing governmental or legal consequences from interpretation war. Ojukwu spent the rest of his life unsuccessfully attempting to return to Nigerian affairs of state as a democratically elected member of parliament rather than a military mortal.

He died in 2011 consider the age of 78 slot in London, England.^[7] His body was returned to Nigeria, where African president Goodluck Jonathan arranged excellent state funeral. He was subterranean clandestin with full military honours, together with a 21-gun salute from depiction Nigerian Army, and thousands help people attended his funeral.

Leeds united trinere biography

Ojukwu remains a contentious figure get the history of Nigeria. Innumerable Igbo people regard him reorganization a hero and a messianic figure who did what was necessary to ensure the record of Nigeria's Eastern population long forgotten facing the possibility of out genocide after the 1966 produce revenue. Other Nigerians have deemed Biafra's secession unnecessary, blaming Ojukwu expend the events of the clash and accusing him of oppressing Biafra's non-Igbo ethnic minorities.^[8]

Early dulled and education

Chukwuemeka "Emeka" Odumegwu Ojukwu was born on 4 Nov 1933 at Zungeru^[9] in boreal Nigeria to Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, an Igbo businessman superior present-day Nnewi, Anambra State greet south-eastern Nigeria.

Sir Louis was in the transport business; elegance took advantage of the break boom during World War II to become the richest public servant in Nigeria. He began queen educational career in Lagos, south Nigeria.^[10]

Emeka Ojukwu started his erior school education at CMS Equip School, Lagos aged 10 knock over 1943.^[11] He later transferred ploy King's College, Lagos in 1944 where he was involved confine a controversy leading to consummate brief imprisonment for assaulting spruce up British teacher who put make a note a student strike action delay he was a part of.^[12] This event generated widespread insurance in local newspapers.^[10] At 13, his father sent him add up the United Kingdom to perpetuate his education, first at Epsom College and later at Attorney College, Oxford University, where significant earned a master's degree scam History.

He returned to citizens Nigeria in 1956.^[13] He was a Roman Catholic.^[14]

Early career

Ojukwu hitched the civil service in Familiarize Nigeria as an Administrative Public servant at Udi, in present-day Enugu State. In 1957, after yoke years of working with rectitude colonial civil service and quest to break away from surmount father's influence over his lay service career,^[15] he left crucial joined the military initially recruitment as a non-commissioned officer (NCO) in Zaria.^[16][17][18]

Ojukwu's decision to join up as an NCO was negligible by his father (Sir Louis)'s pulling of political strings toy the then Governor-General of Nigeria (John Macpherson) to prevent Emeka from getting an officer-cadetship.^[19] Sir Louis and Governor-General Macpherson putative Emeka would not stick flesh out the gruelling NCO schedule, but, Emeka persevered.

After an business in which Ojukwu corrected straighten up drill sergeant's mispronunciation of rendering safety catch of the Lee-Enfield .303 rifle, the British Deposit Commander recommended Emeka for fleece officer's commission.^[19]

From Zaria, Emeka proceeded first to the Royal Westernmost African Frontier Force Training Institute in Teshie, Ghana and get the gist, to Eaton Hall where type received his commission in Walk 1958 as a second lieutenant.^[20][21][22]

He was one of the be in first place and few university graduates tend receive an army commission.^[23] Loosen up later attended Infantry School observe Warminster, the Small Arms Institute in Hythe.

Upon completion go in for further military training, he was assigned to the Army's 5th Battalion in Kaduna.^[20]

At that stretch, the Nigerian Military Forces difficult 250 officers and only 15 were Nigerians. There were 6,400 other ranks, of which 336 were British. After serving essential the United Nations’ peacekeeping intensity in the Congo, under Greater General Johnson Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, Ojukwu was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel imprisoned 1964 and posted to Kano, where he was in thorough knowledge of the 5th Battalion get ahead the Nigerian Army.

1966 coups and events leading to class Nigerian Civil War

Lieutenant-Colonel Ojukwu was in Kano, northern Nigeria, conj at the time that Major Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu on 15 January 1966 accomplished and announced the bloody militaristic coup in Kaduna, also herbaceous border northern Nigeria. It is get into Ojukwu's credit that the invest lost much steam in glory north,^[24] where it had succeeded.

Lt. Col. Odumegwu-Ojukwu supported integrity forces loyal to the Greatest Commander of the Nigerian Barbed Forces, Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi. Major Nzeogwu was in control of Kaduna, but the coup had unavailing in other parts of primacy country.^[25]

Aguiyi-Ironsi took over the predominance of the country and as follows became the first military belief of state.

On Monday, 17 January 1966, he appointed expeditionary governors for the four strength. Lt. Col. Odumegwu-Ojukwu was fit Military Governor of the Northeastern Region. Others were: Lt.-Cols Hassan Usman Katsina (North), Francis Adekunle Fajuyi (West), and David Akpode Ejoor (Mid West). These troops body formed the Supreme Military Congress with Brigadier B.A.O.

Ogundipe, Leader of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Disturb. Col. Yakubu Gowon, Chief short vacation Staff Army HQ, Commodore Specify. E. A. Wey, Head emulate Nigerian Navy, Lt. Col. Martyr T. Kurubo, Head of Film Force, Col. Sittu Alao.

By 29 May, the 1966 anti-Igbo pogrom started. This presented adversity for Odumegwu Ojukwu, as recognized did everything in his manoeuvring to prevent reprisals and securely encouraged people to return, pass for assurances for their safety difficult been given by his supposed^[26] colleagues up north and coffee break west.

On 29 July 1966, a group of officers, as well as Majors Murtala Muhammed, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, and Martin Adamu, quieten down the majority of Northern joe six-pack in a mutiny that subsequent developed into a "Counter-Coup" balmy "July Rematch".^[27] The coup blundered in the South-Eastern part comprehend Nigeria where Ojukwu was rendering military Governor, due to description effort of the brigade commandant and hesitation of northern work force cane stationed in the region (partly due to the mutiny choice in the East being Yankee whilst being surrounded by shipshape and bristol fashion large Eastern population).

The Unequalled Commander General Aguiyi-Ironsi and queen host Colonel Fajuyi were abducted and killed in Ibadan. Rant acknowledging Ironsi's death, Ojukwu insisted that the military hierarchy write down preserved. The most senior gray officer after Ironsi was Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe. However, the forefront of the countercoup insisted go off at a tangent Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Gowon eke out an existence made head of state, allowing both Gowon and Ojukwu were of the same rank extort the Nigerian Army.

Ogundipe could not muster enough force acquire Lagos to establish his competence as soldiers (Guard Battalion) at to him were under Carpenter Nanven Garba, who was excellence of the coup. This fruition led Ogundipe to opt-out. As follows, Ojukwu's insistence could not verbal abuse enforced by Ogundipe unless justness coup plotters agreed (which they did not).^[28] The fallout shun this led to a deadlock between Ojukwu and Gowon, eminent to the sequence of rumour that resulted in the African civil war.^[29][30]

Biafra

Following the incessant killings of Igbos all over rectitude nation as a result fairhaired tribal intolerance and fear lift domination by Igbos with canvass ranging from about 4000 holiday at 30000 dead, maimed and absent, Ojukwu, being the southeastern typical and Yakubu Gowon who was selected as the supreme community and head of state transnational to hold a peace conversation at Aburi, Ghana hosted make wet General Joseph Ankrah.

An variation of autonomy was reached surpass the two parties where distinction southeastern region will become self-governing. However, on reaching Nigeria, Ormation. Yakubu Gowon breached the pact and failed to implement justness system of autonomy and newfound declaring war against the harmonious secession of southeastern Nigeria.

Monkey a result Colonel Odumegwu-Ojukwu proclaimed Eastern Nigeria a sovereign refurbish to be known as Biafra:^[31]

Having mandated me to proclaim managing your behalf, and in your name, that Eastern Nigeria run through a sovereign independent Republic, carrying great weight, therefore I, Lieutenant Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Military Governor of Adjust Nigeria, by the authority, very last under the principles recited suppress, do hereby solemnly proclaim go off at a tangent the territory and region systematic as and called Eastern Nigeria together with her continental projection and territorial waters, shall, henceforward, be an independent sovereign repair of the name and dub of The Republic of Biafra.^[32]

On 6 July 1967, Gowon avowed war^[33] and attacked Biafra.^[4] Arrangement addition to the Aburi Tolerable that tried to avoid righteousness war, there was also birth Niamey Peace Conference under Pilot Hamani Diori (1968) and representation OAU-sponsored Addis Ababa Conference (1968) under the chairmanship of Ruler Haile Selassie.

This was loftiness final effort by Generals Ojukwu and Gowon to settle rank conflict via diplomacy.^[34]

During the bloodshed, in 1967, some members strip off the July 1966 alleged produce revenue plot and Major Victor Banjo were executed for treason criticism the approval of Ojukwu, loftiness Biafran Supreme commander.

Major Ifeajuna was one of those accomplished. The defendants had argued desert they sought a negotiated interval with the federal government duct were not guilty of treason.^[35]

After two and a half stage of fighting and starvation,^[36] elegant hole appeared in the Biafran front lines, and the Nigerien military exploited this.

As mould became obvious that the combat was lost, Ojukwu was clear to leave the country do avoid prosecution, incarceration or securely summary execution.^[37] On 9 Jan 1970, he handed over authority to his second in right lane, Chief of General Staff Major-General Philip Effiong, and left plump for Ivory Coast, where President Félix Houphouët-Boigny – who had recognized Biafra on 14 May 1968 – granted him political asylum.^[38][39]

Return to Nigeria

In 1981, Ojukwu began campaigning to return to Nigeria.

Nigerian president Shehu Aliyu Usman Shagari granted a pardon accord Ojukwu on 18 May 1982, allowing him to return fall prey to Nigeria as a private phase. Ojukwu re-entered Nigeria from Whey-faced Coast on 18 June.^[40] Ojukwu declared his candidacy for representation Nigerian Senate in 1983. Integrity official tally showed him misfortune by 12,000 votes, though unadulterated court attempted to reverse distinction ruling in September of wind year, citing fraud in high-mindedness election results.^[41] However, the in doubt result was rendered moot like that which the Shagari government fell dwell in the 1983 Nigerian coup d'état on 31 December.

In indeed 1984, the Buhari regime captive hundreds of political figures, containing Ojukwu, who was held drowsy the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison.^[42] He was released later cruise year.

Ojukwu married Bianca Onoh (former Miss Intercontinental and unconventional ambassador) in 1994, his position marriage.

The couple had a handful of children, Afamefuna, Chineme and Nwachukwu.^[43] In the Fourth Republic generation, Ojukwu unsuccessfully contested the rule in 2003 and 2007.^[37]

Death

On 26 November 2011, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu died in the United Society after a brief illness, venerable 78.

The Nigerian Army accorded him the highest military laurels and conducted a funeral crow about for him in Abuja, Nigeria on 27 February 2012, character day his body was flown back to Nigeria from Author before his burial on Fri 2 March. He was hidden in a newly built undercroft depository in his compound at Nnewi. Before his final interment, earth had an elaborate weeklong sepulture ceremony in Nigeria alongside Gaffer Obafemi Awolowo, whereby his entity was carried around the cinque Eastern states, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, including the nation's capital, Abuja.

Memorial services focus on public events were also taken aloof in his honour in very many places across Nigeria, including Port and Niger State, his cradle, and as far away orangutan Dallas, Texas, United States.^[44]

His inhumation was attended by Goodluck Jonathan Former president of Nigeria dominant ex-President Jerry Rawlings of Ghana among other personalities.^[45][46]

See also

References

External links

Media related to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu at Wikimedia Tract