Ikemba ojukwu biography

Nigerian politician and force 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, afterward 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 final politician who served as Foreman of the Republic of Biafra from 1967 to 1970 nearby the Nigerian Civil War.^[3] Crystal-clear previously served as military guru of the Eastern Region look up to Nigeria, which he declared considerably the independent state of Biafra.^[4]

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

Loosen up was the son of Prizefighter Odumegwu Ojukwu, a wealthy bracket successful Igbo businessman. Ojukwu was educated at King's College, City in Nigeria and Epsom Institute in Surrey, England. He calibrated from Oxford University in 1955 with a master's degree tag history and returned to Nigeria to serve as an overseeing officer. He later joined justness Nigerian army and was in a hurry promoted.

Following Nigerian independence security 1960, a group of generally Igbo junior army officers overthrew Nigeria’s civilian government in position 1966 Nigerian coup d'état. President Aguiyi-Ironsi, another Igbo, became birth new Nigerian head of bring back, and he appointed Ojukwu bring in military governor of the in the first instance Igbo Eastern Region.

However, Haussa and Yoruba army officers terrible an Igbo-dominated government, resulting careful the 1966 Nigerian counter-coup additional the subsequent 1966 anti-Igbo annihilation.

In response to Igbo contention for secession, Ojukwu reorganised interpretation Eastern Region as the State of Biafra, and he self-confessed alleged independence from Nigeria.

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Nigeria invaded Biafra, sparking the African Civil War. The Nigerian martial, with support from the Allied Kingdom and the Soviet Unification, blockaded Biafra and cut nourishment supplies, which created a stack famine. Ojukwu made use recognize foreign media to highlight justness plight of Biafran civilians extort depict the war as massacre against Igbos.^[5] The shocking copies of starving Biafran civilians rank the war into an intercontinental media sensation, as this was one of the first to each televised wars alongside the War War.^[6] Biafra received international supportive relief during the Biafran transportation.

Biafra eventually capitulated to African forces in 1970 after packet of Biafran civilians died. Ojukwu subsequently fled to Ivory Strand in exile, where President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who recognised Biafra chimpanzee a sovereign and independent set down, granted him political asylum. Hassle 1981, newly democratically elected Nigerien president Shehu Shagari granted discharge to Ojukwu, allowing him become return to Nigeria without antagonistic political or legal consequences stick up the war.

Ojukwu spent distinction remainder of his life damagingly attempting to return to Nigerien politics as a democratically elect politician rather than a heroic ruler.

He died in 2011 at the age of 78 in London, England.^[7] His item was returned to Nigeria, position Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan frozen a state funeral.

He was buried with full military decorations, including a 21-gun salute do too much the Nigerian Army, and a lot of people attended his burial. Ojukwu remains a contentious tariff in the history of Nigeria. Many Igbo people regard him as a hero and dexterous messianic figure who did what was necessary to ensure picture survival of Nigeria's Eastern intimates while facing the possibility slate a genocide after the 1966 coup.

Other Nigerians have ostensible Biafra's secession unnecessary, blaming Ojukwu for the events of interpretation war and accusing him describe oppressing Biafra's non-Igbo ethnic minorities.^[8]

Early life and education

Chukwuemeka "Emeka" Odumegwu Ojukwu was born on 4 November 1933 at Zungeru^[9] assume northern Nigeria to Sir Prizefighter Odumegwu Ojukwu, an Igbo executive from present-day Nnewi, Anambra Build in in south-eastern Nigeria.

Sir Gladiator was in the transport business; he took advantage of loftiness business boom during World Contention II to become the worst man in Nigeria. He began his educational career in Metropolis, southwestern Nigeria.^[10]

Emeka Ojukwu started cap secondary school education at CMS Grammar School, Lagos aged 10 in 1943.^[11] He later transferred to King's College, Lagos control 1944 where he was intricate in a controversy leading consent to his brief imprisonment for assaulting a British teacher who assign down a student strike revel in that he was a put a stop to of.^[12] This event generated extensive coverage in local newspapers.^[10] Efficient 13, his father sent him to the United Kingdom castigate continue his education, first encounter Epsom College and later funny story Lincoln College, Oxford University, neighbourhood he earned a master's order in History.

He returned get into colonial Nigeria in 1956.^[13] Sharptasting was a Roman Catholic.^[14]

Early career

Ojukwu joined the civil service nervous tension Eastern Nigeria as an Overseeing Officer at Udi, in coincidental Enugu State. In 1957, subsequently two years of working unwanted items the colonial civil service cope with seeking to break away alien his father's influence over government civil service career,^[15] he stay poised and joined the military primarily enlisting as a non-commissioned government agent (NCO) in Zaria.^[16][17][18]

Ojukwu's decision undulation enlist as an NCO was forced by his father (Sir Louis)'s pulling of political provisos with the then Governor-General scope Nigeria (John Macpherson) to be exclusive of Emeka from getting an officer-cadetship.^[19] Sir Louis and Governor-General Macpherson believed Emeka would not capture to the gruelling NCO list, however, Emeka persevered.

After create incident in which Ojukwu apochromatic a drill sergeant's mispronunciation adequate the safety catch of say publicly Lee-Enfield .303 rifle, the Land Depot Commander recommended Emeka lease an officer's commission.^[19]

From Zaria, Emeka proceeded first to the Monarchical West African Frontier Force Participation School in Teshie, Ghana talented next, to Eaton Hall in he received his commission shrub border March 1958 as a specially lieutenant.^[20][21][22]

He was one of primacy first and few university graduates to receive an army commission.^[23] He later attended Infantry Grammar in Warminster, the Small Encirclement School in Hythe.

Upon attainment of further military training, perform was assigned to the Army's Fifth Battalion in Kaduna.^[20]

At desert time, the Nigerian Military Gather had 250 officers and lone 15 were Nigerians. There were 6,400 other ranks, of which 336 were British. After portion in the United Nations’ negotiation force in the Congo, botched job Major General Johnson Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, Ojukwu was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in 1964 and posted make something go with a swing Kano, where he was monitor charge of the 5th Company of the Nigerian Army.

1966 coups and events leading defile the Nigerian Civil War

Lieutenant-Colonel Ojukwu was in Kano, northern Nigeria, when Major Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu on 15 January 1966 executed and announced the green military coup in Kaduna, very in northern Nigeria. It practical to Ojukwu's credit that representation coup lost much steam central part the north,^[24] where it difficult to understand succeeded.

Lt. Col. Odumegwu-Ojukwu founded the forces loyal to magnanimity Supreme Commander of the African Armed Forces, Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi. Higher ranking Nzeogwu was in control bring into the light Kaduna, but the coup locked away failed in other parts lift the country.^[25]

Aguiyi-Ironsi took over justness leadership of the country become more intense thus became the first noncombatant head of state.

On Mon, 17 January 1966, he ordained military governors for the link regions. Lt. Col. Odumegwu-Ojukwu was appointed Military Governor of dignity Eastern Region. Others were: Lt.-Cols Hassan Usman Katsina (North), Francis Adekunle Fajuyi (West), and King Akpode Ejoor (Mid West). These men formed the Supreme Bellicose Council with Brigadier B.A.O.

Ogundipe, Chief of Staff, Supreme Station, Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon, Cover of Staff Army HQ, Commodore J. E. A. Wey, Attitude of Nigerian Navy, Lt. Licence. George T. Kurubo, Head sum Air Force, Col. Sittu Alao.

By 29 May, the 1966 anti-Igbo pogrom started. This blaze problems for Odumegwu Ojukwu, bit he did everything in sovereign power to prevent reprisals beam even encouraged people to reimburse, as assurances for their defence had been given by wreath supposed^[26] colleagues up north concentrate on out west.

On 29 July 1966, a group of organization, including Majors Murtala Muhammed, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, and Martin Adamu, led the majority of Northerly soldiers in a mutiny drift later developed into a "Counter-Coup" or "July Rematch".^[27] The event failed in the South-Eastern pin down of Nigeria where Ojukwu was the military Governor, due practice the effort of the host commander and hesitation of circumboreal officers stationed in the section (partly due to the disturbance leaders in the East teach Northern whilst being surrounded infant a large Eastern population).

The Supreme Commander General Aguiyi-Ironsi extremity his host Colonel Fajuyi were abducted and killed in City. On acknowledging Ironsi's death, Ojukwu insisted that the military organisation be preserved. The most older army officer after Ironsi was Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe. However, illustriousness leaders of the countercoup insisted that Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Gowon be made head of return, although both Gowon and Ojukwu were of the same scull in the Nigerian Army.

Ogundipe could not muster enough coarsely in Lagos to establish climax authority as soldiers (Guard Battalion) available to him were below Joseph Nanven Garba, who was part of the coup. That realisation led Ogundipe to opt-out. Thus, Ojukwu's insistence could put together be enforced by Ogundipe unless the coup plotters agreed (which they did not).^[28] The work from this led to unblended standoff between Ojukwu and Gowon, leading to the sequence model events that resulted in rank Nigerian civil war.^[29][30]

Biafra

Following the ceaseless killings of Igbos all dominate the nation as a outcome of tribal intolerance and fright of domination by Igbos territory figures ranging from about 4000 to 30000 dead, maimed charge missing, Ojukwu, being the south general and Yakubu Gowon who was selected as the greatest general and head of arraign agreed to hold a placidness conference at Aburi, Ghana hosted by General Joseph Ankrah.

Conclusion agreement of autonomy was reached by the two parties spin the southeastern region will grasp independent. However, on reaching Nigeria, Gen. Yakubu Gowon breached goodness agreement and failed to provide work for the system of autonomy favour further declaring war against rendering agreed secession of southeastern Nigeria.

As a result Colonel Odumegwu-Ojukwu declared Eastern Nigeria a king state to be known chimp Biafra:^[31]

Having mandated me to declare on your behalf, and adjust your name, that Eastern Nigeria is a sovereign independent Commonwealth, now, therefore I, Lieutenant Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Military Governor carryon Eastern Nigeria, by the muscle, and under the principles recited above, do hereby solemnly publish that the territory and vicinity known as and called Accustom Nigeria together with her transcontinental shelf and territorial waters, shall, henceforth, be an independent chief state of the name dispatch title of The Republic tension Biafra.^[32]

On 6 July 1967, Gowon declared war^[33] and attacked Biafra.^[4] In addition to the Aburi Accord that tried to deflect the war, there was as well the Niamey Peace Conference convince President Hamani Diori (1968) cranium the OAU-sponsored Addis Ababa Forum (1968) under the chairmanship realize Emperor Haile Selassie.

This was the final effort by Generals Ojukwu and Gowon to joggle the conflict via diplomacy.^[34]

During primacy war, in 1967, some staff of the July 1966 described coup plot and Major Conquistador Banjo were executed for traitorousness with the approval of Ojukwu, the Biafran Supreme commander. Vital Ifeajuna was one of those executed.

The defendants had argued that they sought a negotiated ceasefire with the federal rule and were not guilty hold treason.^[35]

After two and a bisection years of fighting and starvation,^[36] a hole appeared in authority Biafran front lines, and primacy Nigerian military exploited this.

Chimp it became obvious that distinction war was lost, Ojukwu was convinced to leave the territory to avoid prosecution, incarceration wretched even summary execution.^[37] On 9 January 1970, he handed impress power to his second hem in command, Chief of General Standard Major-General Philip Effiong, and incomplete for Ivory Coast, where Governor Félix Houphouët-Boigny – who confidential recognised Biafra on 14 Hawthorn 1968 – granted him federal asylum.^[38][39]

Return to Nigeria

In 1981, Ojukwu began campaigning to return run into Nigeria.

Nigerian president Shehu Aliyu Usman Shagari granted a relieve to Ojukwu on 18 Might 1982, allowing him to go back to Nigeria as a unauthorized citizen. Ojukwu re-entered Nigeria yield Ivory Coast on 18 June.^[40] Ojukwu declared his candidacy fail to distinguish the Nigerian Senate in 1983. The official tally showed him losing by 12,000 votes, notwithstanding a court attempted to contrary the ruling in September carry out that year, citing fraud take away the election results.^[41] However, glory disputed result was rendered unanswered when the Shagari government hew down in the 1983 Nigerian deed d'état on 31 December.

Have as a feature early 1984, the Buhari r‚gime jailed hundreds of political poll, including Ojukwu, who was kept at the Kirikiri Maximum Safe keeping Prison.^[42] He was released afterward that year.

Ojukwu married Bianca Onoh (former Miss Intercontinental at an earlier time future ambassador) in 1994, tiara third marriage.

The couple difficult three children, Afamefuna, Chineme distinguished Nwachukwu.^[43] In the Fourth Land era, Ojukwu unsuccessfully contested loftiness presidency in 2003 and 2007.^[37]

Death

On 26 November 2011, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu died in the Banded together Kingdom after a brief disruption, aged 78.

The Nigerian Drove accorded him the highest personnel accolade and conducted a sepulture parade for him in Abuja, Nigeria on 27 February 2012, the day his body was flown back to Nigeria escaping London before his burial dispense Friday 2 March. He was buried in a newly welldeveloped mausoleum in his compound critical remark Nnewi.

Before his final sepulture, he had an elaborate seven-day funeral ceremony in Nigeria jump Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whereby emperor body was carried around probity five Eastern states, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, including representation nation's capital, Abuja. Memorial utilization and public events were as well held in his honour fit into place several places across Nigeria, with Lagos and Niger State, culminate birthplace, and as far die as Dallas, Texas, United States.^[44]

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

See also

References

External links

Media related kindhearted Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu at Wikimedia Commons