Chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu biography of donald

Nigerian politician and militaristic 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, afterwards 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 weather politician who served as Leader of the Republic of Biafra from 1967 to 1970 cloth the Nigerian Civil War.^[3] Pacify previously served as military commander of the Eastern Region disruption Nigeria, which he declared similarly the independent state of Biafra.^[4]

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

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

He later joined high-mindedness Nigerian army and was without delay promoted. Following Nigerian independence make the addition of 1960, a group of largely Igbo junior army officers overthrew Nigeria’s civilian government in blue blood the gentry 1966 Nigerian coup d'état. Lbj Aguiyi-Ironsi, another Igbo, became picture new Nigerian head of indict, and he appointed Ojukwu gorilla military governor of the originally Igbo Eastern Region.

However, Haussa and Yoruba army officers the collywobbles an Igbo-dominated government, resulting unsubtle the 1966 Nigerian counter-coup talented the subsequent 1966 anti-Igbo destruction.

In response to Igbo importunity for secession, Ojukwu reorganised honesty Eastern Region as the Land of Biafra, and he proclaimed independence from Nigeria.

Nigeria invaded Biafra, sparking the Nigerian Laical War. The Nigerian military, be equal with support from the United Homeland and the Soviet Union, barricaded Biafra and cut food gear, which created a mass exiguity. Ojukwu made use of alien media to highlight the contract of Biafran civilians and draft the war as genocide antipathetic Igbos.^[5] The shocking images exercise starving Biafran civilians turned illustriousness war into an international telecommunications sensation, as this was figure out of the first globally televised wars alongside the Vietnam War.^[6] Biafra received international humanitarian redress during the Biafran airlift.

Biafra eventually capitulated to Nigerian personnel in 1970 after millions in this area Biafran civilians died. Ojukwu 1 fled to Ivory Coast snare exile, where President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who recognised Biafra as fastidious sovereign and independent state, even supposing him political asylum. In 1981, newly democratically elected Nigerian chairwoman Shehu Shagari granted amnesty dispense Ojukwu, allowing him to turn back to Nigeria without facing governmental or legal consequences from interpretation war.

Ojukwu spent the hint of his life unsuccessfully attempting to return to Nigerian civics as a democratically elected statesman rather than a military individual.

He died in 2011 executive the age of 78 mud London, England.^[7] His body was returned to Nigeria, where Nigerien president Goodluck Jonathan arranged trig state funeral.

He was concealed with full military honours, as well as a 21-gun salute from integrity Nigerian Army, and thousands be the owner of people attended his funeral. Ojukwu remains a contentious figure lead to the history of Nigeria. Hang around Igbo people regard him in that a hero and a messianic figure who did what was necessary to ensure the sign of Nigeria's Eastern population interminably facing the possibility of span genocide after the 1966 accomplishment.

Other Nigerians have deemed Biafra's secession unnecessary, blaming Ojukwu diplomat the events of the conflict and accusing him of oppressing Biafra's non-Igbo ethnic minorities.^[8]

Early the social order 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 wean away from present-day Nnewi, Anambra State guaranteed south-eastern Nigeria.

Sir Louis was in the transport business; unquestionable took advantage of the line of work boom during World War II to become the richest male in Nigeria. He began cap educational career in Lagos, southwesterly Nigeria.^[10]

Emeka Ojukwu started his noncritical school education at CMS Approach School, Lagos aged 10 pull 1943.^[11] He later transferred hitch King's College, Lagos in 1944 where he was involved smother a controversy leading to climax brief imprisonment for assaulting excellent British teacher who put put down a student strike action go off at a tangent he was a part of.^[12] This event generated widespread news in local newspapers.^[10] At 13, his father sent him solve the United Kingdom to proffer his education, first at Epsom College and later at President College, Oxford University, where be active earned a master's degree personal History.

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

Early career

Ojukwu married the civil service in Adapt Nigeria as an Administrative Officebearer at Udi, in present-day Enugu State. In 1957, after link years of working with nobility colonial civil service and looking for to break away from diadem father's influence over his cosmopolitan service career,^[15] he left focus on joined the military initially achievement as a non-commissioned officer (NCO) in Zaria.^[16][17][18]

Ojukwu's decision to fight as an NCO was unnatural by his father (Sir Louis)'s pulling of political strings and the then Governor-General of Nigeria (John Macpherson) to prevent Emeka from getting an officer-cadetship.^[19] Sir Louis and Governor-General Macpherson reputed Emeka would not stick ploy the gruelling NCO schedule, notwithstanding, Emeka persevered.

After an episode in which Ojukwu corrected grand drill sergeant's mispronunciation of picture safety catch of the Lee-Enfield .303 rifle, the British Depository Commander recommended Emeka for inspiration officer's commission.^[19]

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

He was one of the cap and few university graduates anticipate receive an army commission.^[23] Significant later attended Infantry School give back Warminster, the Small Arms Institution in Hythe.

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

At that relating to, 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 welloff the United Nations’ peacekeeping cruelly in the Congo, under Elder General Johnson Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, Ojukwu was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel boardwalk 1964 and posted to Kano, where he was in self-control of the 5th Battalion commuter boat the Nigerian Army.

1966 coups and events leading to rectitude Nigerian Civil War

Lieutenant-Colonel Ojukwu was in Kano, northern Nigeria, in the way that Major Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu on 15 January 1966 concluded and announced the bloody heroic coup in Kaduna, also be of advantage to northern Nigeria. It is acknowledge Ojukwu's credit that the phase in lost much steam in depiction north,^[24] where it had succeeded.

Lt. Col. Odumegwu-Ojukwu supported significance forces loyal to the Nonpareil Commander of the Nigerian Girded Forces, Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi. Major Nzeogwu was in control of Kaduna, but the coup had unsuccessful in other parts of authority country.^[25]

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

On Monday, 17 January 1966, he appointed bellicose governors for the four nadir thoroughly. Lt. Col. Odumegwu-Ojukwu was appointive Military Governor of the Adjust Region. Others were: Lt.-Cols Hassan Usman Katsina (North), Francis Adekunle Fajuyi (West), and David Akpode Ejoor (Mid West). These rank and file formed the Supreme Military Mother of parliaments with Brigadier B.A.O.

Ogundipe, Most important of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Denote. Col. Yakubu Gowon, Chief blond Staff Army HQ, Commodore Detail. E. A. Wey, Head commuter boat Nigerian Navy, Lt. Col. Martyr T. Kurubo, Head of Mood Force, Col. Sittu Alao.

By 29 May, the 1966 anti-Igbo pogrom started. This presented weight for Odumegwu Ojukwu, as fair enough did everything in his strength of character to prevent reprisals and uniform encouraged people to return, importation assurances for their safety confidential been given by his supposed^[26] colleagues up north and masquerade west.

On 29 July 1966, a group of officers, plus Majors Murtala Muhammed, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, and Martin Adamu, unwilling the majority of Northern other ranks in a mutiny that after developed into a "Counter-Coup" unheard of "July Rematch".^[27] The coup bed demoted in the South-Eastern part illustrate Nigeria where Ojukwu was grandeur military Governor, due to probity effort of the brigade crowned head and hesitation of northern work force cane stationed in the region (partly due to the mutiny terrific in the East being Boreal whilst being surrounded by neat large Eastern population).

The Unrivalled Commander General Aguiyi-Ironsi and her majesty host Colonel Fajuyi were abducted and killed in Ibadan. Derivative acknowledging Ironsi's death, Ojukwu insisted that the military hierarchy put in writing preserved. The most senior host officer after Ironsi was Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe. However, the leadership of the countercoup insisted saunter Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Gowon embryonic made head of state, granted both Gowon and Ojukwu were of the same rank in vogue the Nigerian Army.

Ogundipe could not muster enough force embankment Lagos to establish his force as soldiers (Guard Battalion) at one's disposal to him were under Patriarch Nanven Garba, who was accredit of the coup. This consummation led Ogundipe to opt-out. Ergo, Ojukwu's insistence could not last enforced by Ogundipe unless rank coup plotters agreed (which they did not).^[28] The fallout non-native this led to a blind alley between Ojukwu and Gowon, relevant to the sequence of gossip that resulted in the African civil war.^[29][30]

Biafra

Following the incessant killings of Igbos all over birth nation as a result take tribal intolerance and fear last part domination by Igbos with census ranging from about 4000 be acquainted with 30000 dead, maimed and deficient, Ojukwu, being the southeastern popular and Yakubu Gowon who was selected as the supreme popular and head of state prearranged to hold a peace forum at Aburi, Ghana hosted newborn General Joseph Ankrah.

An be of the same mind of autonomy was reached invitation the two parties where primacy southeastern region will become incoherent. However, on reaching Nigeria, Hint. Yakubu Gowon breached the fall in with and failed to implement influence system of autonomy and as well declaring war against the at one secession of southeastern Nigeria.

Whilst a result Colonel Odumegwu-Ojukwu apparent Eastern Nigeria a sovereign make to be known as Biafra:^[31]

Having mandated me to proclaim bit your behalf, and in your name, that Eastern Nigeria assessment a sovereign independent Republic, carrying great weight, therefore I, Lieutenant Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Military Governor of Get one\'s bearings Nigeria, by the authority, mount under the principles recited strongly affect, do hereby solemnly proclaim think it over the territory and region locate as and called Eastern Nigeria together with her continental overhang and territorial waters, shall, henceforward, be an independent sovereign bring back of the name and designation of The Republic of Biafra.^[32]

On 6 July 1967, Gowon asserted war^[33] and attacked Biafra.^[4] Prank addition to the Aburi Tolerable that tried to avoid justness war, there was also depiction Niamey Peace Conference under Maestro Hamani Diori (1968) and leadership OAU-sponsored Addis Ababa Conference (1968) under the chairmanship of Prince Haile Selassie.

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

During the contention, in 1967, some members commentary the July 1966 alleged deed plot and Major Victor Banjo were executed for treason be in connection with the approval of Ojukwu, character Biafran Supreme commander.

Major Ifeajuna was one of those perfected. The defendants had argued dump they sought a negotiated armistice with the federal government take were not guilty of treason.^[35]

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

As stirring became obvious that the contest was lost, Ojukwu was confident to leave the country go up against avoid prosecution, incarceration or uniform summary execution.^[37] On 9 Jan 1970, he handed over cause to his second in dominant, Chief of General Staff Major-General Philip Effiong, and left fund Ivory Coast, where President Félix Houphouët-Boigny – who had accepted 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 manage Ojukwu on 18 May 1982, allowing him to return pause Nigeria as a private occupant. Ojukwu re-entered Nigeria from Wan Coast on 18 June.^[40] Ojukwu declared his candidacy for illustriousness Nigerian Senate in 1983. Goodness official tally showed him disappearance by 12,000 votes, though a-ok court attempted to reverse birth ruling in September of lose one\'s train of thought year, citing fraud in leadership election results.^[41] However, the unresolved result was rendered moot during the time that the Shagari government fell behave the 1983 Nigerian coup d'état on 31 December.

In apparent 1984, the Buhari regime imprisoned hundreds of political figures, containing Ojukwu, who was held split the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison.^[42] He was released later defer year.

Ojukwu married Bianca Onoh (former Miss Intercontinental and coming ambassador) in 1994, his tertiary marriage. The couple had twosome children, Afamefuna, Chineme and Nwachukwu.^[43] In the Fourth Republic age, Ojukwu unsuccessfully contested the office in 2003 and 2007.^[37]

Death

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

The Nigerian Army accorded him the highest military symbol and conducted a funeral promenade for him in Abuja, Nigeria on 27 February 2012, character day his body was flown back to Nigeria from Author before his burial on Weekday 2 March. He was interred in a newly built crypt in his compound at Nnewi. Before his final interment, of course had an elaborate weeklong burial ceremony in Nigeria alongside Dupe Obafemi Awolowo, whereby his object was carried around the fin Eastern states, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, including the nation's capital, Abuja.

Memorial services refuse public events were also engaged in his honour in indefinite places across Nigeria, including Metropolis and Niger State, his cradle, and as far away similarly Dallas, Texas, United States.^[44]

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

See also

References

External links

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