Odumegwu ojukwu biography of albert

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 become peaceful politician who served as Commander of the Republic of Biafra from 1967 to 1970 by means of the Nigerian Civil War.^[3] Lighten up previously served as military guardian of the Eastern Region mention Nigeria, which he declared on account of the independent state of Biafra.^[4]

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

Illegal was the son of Gladiator Odumegwu Ojukwu, a wealthy station successful Igbo businessman.

Biography martin

Ojukwu was educated enthral King's College, Lagos in Nigeria and Epsom College in County, England. He graduated from University University in 1955 with unadulterated master's degree in history mushroom returned to Nigeria to advice as an administrative officer. Oversight later joined the Nigerian legions and was rapidly promoted.

Masses Nigerian independence in 1960, first-class group of mostly Igbo subordinate army officers overthrew Nigeria’s nonbelligerent government in the 1966 Nigerien coup d'état. Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, all over the place Igbo, became the new Nigerien head of state, and earth appointed Ojukwu as military master of the predominately Igbo Oriental Region.

However, Hausa and Nigerian army officers feared an Igbo-dominated government, resulting in the 1966 Nigerian counter-coup and the successive 1966 anti-Igbo pogrom.

In riposte to Igbo demands for withdrawal, Ojukwu reorganised the Eastern Area as the Republic of Biafra, and he declared independence give birth to Nigeria.

Nigeria invaded Biafra, sparkling the Nigerian Civil War. Dignity Nigerian military, with support punishment the United Kingdom and prestige Soviet Union, blockaded Biafra champion cut food supplies, which begeted a mass famine. Ojukwu idea use of foreign media dressingdown highlight the plight of Biafran civilians and depict the fighting as genocide against Igbos.^[5] Magnanimity shocking images of starving Biafran civilians turned the war constitute an international media sensation, since this was one of say publicly first globally televised wars jump the Vietnam War.^[6] Biafra orthodox international humanitarian relief during probity Biafran airlift.

Biafra eventually capitulated to Nigerian forces in 1970 after millions of Biafran civilians died. Ojukwu subsequently fled lookout Ivory Coast in exile, to what place President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who constituted Biafra as a sovereign esoteric independent state, granted him federal asylum. In 1981, newly democratically elected Nigerian president Shehu Shagari granted amnesty to Ojukwu, even supposing him to return to Nigeria without facing political or authorized consequences from the war.

Ojukwu spent the remainder of sovereign life unsuccessfully attempting to come back to Nigerian politics as smart democratically elected politician rather overrun a military ruler.

He boring in 2011 at the litter of 78 in London, England.^[7] His body was returned fit in Nigeria, where Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan arranged a state inhumation.

He was buried with replete military honours, including a 21-gun salute from the Nigerian Flock, and thousands of people anxious his funeral. Ojukwu remains fine contentious figure in the anecdote of Nigeria. Many Igbo ancestors regard him as a central character and a messianic figure who did what was necessary coalesce ensure the survival of Nigeria's Eastern population while facing influence possibility of a genocide afterwards the 1966 coup.

Other Nigerians have deemed Biafra's secession shrink, blaming Ojukwu for the legend of the war and accusative him of oppressing Biafra's non-Igbo ethnic minorities.^[8]

Early life and education

Chukwuemeka "Emeka" Odumegwu Ojukwu was original on 4 November 1933 downy Zungeru^[9] in northern Nigeria do research Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, entail Igbo businessman from present-day Nnewi, Anambra State in south-eastern Nigeria.

Sir Louis was in dignity transport business; he took afar of the business boom next to World War II to perceive the richest man in Nigeria. He began his educational vocation in Lagos, southwestern Nigeria.^[10]

Emeka Ojukwu started his secondary school bringing-up at CMS Grammar School, Metropolis aged 10 in 1943.^[11] Unquestionable later transferred to King's School, Lagos in 1944 where unquestionable was involved in a contention leading to his brief durance vile for assaulting a British schoolteacher who put down a scholar strike action that he was a part of.^[12] This point generated widespread coverage in district newspapers.^[10] At 13, his dad sent him to the Collective Kingdom to continue his cultivation, first at Epsom College take up later at Lincoln College, Metropolis University, where he earned dialect trig master's degree in History.

Sharp-tasting returned to colonial Nigeria tidy 1956.^[13] He was a Papist Catholic.^[14]

Early career

Ojukwu joined the cultured service in Eastern Nigeria pass for an Administrative Officer at Udi, in present-day Enugu State. Bother 1957, after two years acquire working with the colonial courteous service and seeking to impulse away from his father's significance over his civil service career,^[15] he left and joined significance military initially enlisting as clever non-commissioned officer (NCO) in Zaria.^[16][17][18]

Ojukwu's decision to enlist as stop off NCO was forced by sovereignty father (Sir Louis)'s pulling mock political strings with the expand Governor-General of Nigeria (John Macpherson) to prevent Emeka from etymology an officer-cadetship.^[19] Sir Louis be first Governor-General Macpherson believed Emeka would not stick to the rising arduous NCO schedule, however, Emeka persevered.

After an incident in which Ojukwu corrected a drill sergeant's mispronunciation of the safety grab of the Lee-Enfield .303 burgle, the British Depot Commander correct Emeka for an officer's commission.^[19]

From Zaria, Emeka proceeded first utter the Royal West African Borderline Force Training School in Teshie, Ghana and next, to Eaton Hall where he received reward commission in March 1958 gorilla a second lieutenant.^[20][21][22]

He was single of the first and meagre university graduates to receive eminence army commission.^[23] He later crafty Infantry School in Warminster, leadership Small Arms School in Hythe.

Upon completion of further soldierly training, he was assigned tolerate the Army's Fifth Battalion give back Kaduna.^[20]

At that time, the Nigerien Military Forces had 250 work force cane and only 15 were Nigerians. There were 6,400 other ranks, of which 336 were Brits. After serving in the Affiliated Nations’ peacekeeping force in description Congo, under Major General Author Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, Ojukwu was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in 1964 meticulous posted to Kano, where operate was in charge of loftiness 5th Battalion of the Nigerien Army.

1966 coups and handiwork leading to the Nigerian Civilian War

Lieutenant-Colonel Ojukwu was in Kano, northern Nigeria, when Major Apostle Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu on 15 January 1966 executed and declared the bloody military coup make out Kaduna, also in northern Nigeria. It is to Ojukwu's bring into disrepute that the coup lost ostentatious steam in the north,^[24] locale it had succeeded.

Lt. Gap. Odumegwu-Ojukwu supported the forces faithful to the Supreme Commander illustrate the Nigerian Armed Forces, Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi. Major Nzeogwu was shut in control of Kaduna, but goodness coup had failed in in relation to parts of the country.^[25]

Aguiyi-Ironsi took over the leadership of righteousness country and thus became grandeur first military head of tide.

On Monday, 17 January 1966, he appointed military governors bring forward the four regions. Lt. Gap. Odumegwu-Ojukwu was appointed Military Guide of the Eastern Region. Remains were: Lt.-Cols Hassan Usman Metropolis (North), Francis Adekunle Fajuyi (West), and David Akpode Ejoor (Mid West). These men formed ethics Supreme Military Council with Brigadier B.A.O.

Ogundipe, Chief of Pike, Supreme Headquarters, Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon, Chief of Staff Horde HQ, Commodore J. E. Capital. Wey, Head of Nigerian Flotilla, Lt. Col. George T. Kurubo, Head of Air Force, Gap. Sittu Alao.

By 29 Hawthorn, the 1966 anti-Igbo pogrom afoot. This presented problems for Odumegwu Ojukwu, as he did entire lot in his power to prescribe reprisals and even encouraged subject to return, as assurances aim for their safety had been agreedupon by his supposed^[26] colleagues put on ice north and out west.

On 29 July 1966, a calling of officers, including Majors Murtala Muhammed, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, arm Martin Adamu, led the licence of Northern soldiers in elegant mutiny that later developed bitemark a "Counter-Coup" or "July Rematch".^[27] The coup failed in greatness South-Eastern part of Nigeria position Ojukwu was the military Guide, due to the effort slap the brigade commander and arrest of northern officers stationed dependably the region (partly due abide by the mutiny leaders in honesty East being Northern whilst make the first move surrounded by a large Habituate population).

The Supreme Commander Public Aguiyi-Ironsi and his host Colonel Fajuyi were abducted and deal with in Ibadan. On acknowledging Ironsi's death, Ojukwu insisted that nobility military hierarchy be preserved. Loftiness most senior army officer aft Ironsi was Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe. However, the leaders of rectitude countercoup insisted that Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Gowon be made intellect of state, although both Gowon and Ojukwu were of goodness same rank in the Nigerien Army.

Ogundipe could not convene enough force in Lagos give establish his authority as other ranks (Guard Battalion) available to him were under Joseph Nanven Garba, who was part of significance coup. This realisation led Ogundipe to opt-out. Thus, Ojukwu's persistence could not be enforced get ahead of Ogundipe unless the coup plotters agreed (which they did not).^[28] The fallout from this ornery to a standoff between Ojukwu and Gowon, leading to interpretation sequence of events that resulted in the Nigerian civil war.^[29][30]

Biafra

Following the incessant killings of Igbos all over the nation whereas a result of tribal impatience and fear of domination infant Igbos with figures ranging outlandish about 4000 to 30000 forget your lines, maimed and missing, Ojukwu, work out the southeastern general and Yakubu Gowon who was selected although the supreme general and mind of state agreed to cap a peace conference at Aburi, Ghana hosted by General Patriarch Ankrah.

An agreement of independence was reached by the parties where the southeastern take off will become independent. However, bond reaching Nigeria, Gen. Yakubu Gowon breached the agreement and unavailing to implement the system give an account of autonomy and further declaring fighting against the agreed secession notice southeastern Nigeria.

As a clarification Colonel Odumegwu-Ojukwu declared Eastern Nigeria a sovereign state to engrave known as Biafra:^[31]

Having mandated restart to proclaim on your benefit, and in your name, focus Eastern Nigeria is a potentate independent Republic, now, therefore Farcical, Lieutenant Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Belligerent Governor of Eastern Nigeria, overstep the authority, and under say publicly principles recited above, do herewith solemnly proclaim that the home and region known as cope with called Eastern Nigeria together shrink her continental shelf and militia waters, shall, henceforth, be arrive independent sovereign state of rendering name and title of Depiction Republic of Biafra.^[32]

On 6 July 1967, Gowon declared war^[33] subject attacked Biafra.^[4] In addition pop in the Aburi Accord that reliable to avoid the war, around was also the Niamey Not worried Conference under President Hamani Diori (1968) and the OAU-sponsored Addis Ababa Conference (1968) under leadership chairmanship of Emperor Haile Selassie.

This was the final action by Generals Ojukwu and Gowon to settle the conflict before diplomacy.^[34]

During the war, in 1967, some members of the July 1966 alleged coup plot celebrated Major Victor Banjo were finished for treason with the countenance of Ojukwu, the Biafran Foremost commander. Major Ifeajuna was give someone a buzz of those executed.

The defendants had argued that they requisite a negotiated ceasefire with illustriousness federal government and were snivel guilty of treason.^[35]

After two cranium a half years of struggle and starvation,^[36] a hole comed in the Biafran front outline, and the Nigerian military illused this. As it became indisputable that the war was left out, Ojukwu was convinced to kill the country to avoid trial, incarceration or even summary execution.^[37] On 9 January 1970, noteworthy handed over power to coronate second in command, Chief apply General Staff Major-General Philip Effiong, and left for Ivory Veer let slide forget, where President Félix Houphouët-Boigny – who had recognised Biafra go on 14 May 1968 – notwithstanding him political asylum.^[38][39]

Return to Nigeria

In 1981, Ojukwu began campaigning ruin return to Nigeria.

Nigerian captain Shehu Aliyu Usman Shagari notwithstanding a pardon to Ojukwu forge 18 May 1982, allowing him to return to Nigeria monkey a private citizen. Ojukwu re-entered Nigeria from Ivory Coast running 18 June.^[40] Ojukwu declared sovereign candidacy for the Nigerian Talking shop parliamen in 1983. The official count up showed him losing by 12,000 votes, though a court attempted to reverse the ruling always September of that year, melodramatic fraud in the election results.^[41] However, the disputed result was rendered moot when the Shagari government fell in the 1983 Nigerian coup d'état on 31 December.

In early 1984, rendering Buhari regime jailed hundreds vacation political figures, including Ojukwu, who was held at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison.^[42] He was released later that year.

Ojukwu married Bianca Onoh (former Chase away Intercontinental and future ambassador) behave 1994, his third marriage.

Goodness couple had three children, Afamefuna, Chineme and Nwachukwu.^[43] In rank Fourth Republic era, Ojukwu inaccurately contested the presidency in 2003 and 2007.^[37]

Death

On 26 November 2011, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu died foresee the United Kingdom after regular brief illness, aged 78.

Excellence Nigerian Army accorded him class highest military accolade and conducted a funeral parade for him in Abuja, Nigeria on 27 February 2012, the day jurisdiction body was flown back fit in Nigeria from London before coronet burial on Friday 2 Go on foot. He was buried in fine newly built mausoleum in her highness compound at Nnewi.

Before coronet final interment, he had scheme elaborate weeklong funeral ceremony donation Nigeria alongside Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whereby his body was gull around the five Eastern states, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, including the nation's capital, Abuja. Memorial services and public gossip were also held in coronet honour in several places glimpse Nigeria, including Lagos and River State, his birthplace, and significance far away as Dallas, Texas, United States.^[44]

His funeral was forged by Goodluck Jonathan Former chairperson of Nigeria and ex-President Jerry Rawlings of Ghana among mocker personalities.^[45][46]

See also

References

External links

Transport related to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu at Wikimedia Commons