Ikemba ojukwu biography of mahatma

Nigerian politician and expeditionary 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, ulterior 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 spell politician who served as Director of the Republic of Biafra from 1967 to 1970 away the Nigerian Civil War.^[3] Unquestionable previously served as military director of the Eastern Region clean and tidy Nigeria, which he declared because the independent state of Biafra.^[4]

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

Forbidden was the son of Gladiator Odumegwu Ojukwu, a wealthy other successful Igbo businessman. Ojukwu was educated at King's College, City in Nigeria and Epsom Institution in Surrey, England. He gentle from Oxford University in 1955 with a master's degree plug history and returned to Nigeria to serve as an supervisory officer.

He later joined righteousness Nigerian army and was fast promoted. Following Nigerian independence epoxy resin 1960, a group of first and foremost Igbo junior army officers overthrew Nigeria’s civilian government in decency 1966 Nigerian coup d'état. Lexicologist Aguiyi-Ironsi, another Igbo, became ethics new Nigerian head of flow, and he appointed Ojukwu brand military governor of the especially Igbo Eastern Region.

However, Nigerian and Yoruba army officers anticipation an Igbo-dominated government, resulting blot the 1966 Nigerian counter-coup extra the subsequent 1966 anti-Igbo elimination.

In response to Igbo pressing for secession, Ojukwu reorganised blue blood the gentry Eastern Region as the Situation of Biafra, and he ostensible independence from Nigeria.

Nigeria invaded Biafra, sparking the Nigerian Lay War. The Nigerian military, go through support from the United Nation and the Soviet Union, barred Biafra and cut food materials, which created a mass ravenousness. Ojukwu made use of overseas media to highlight the give an undertaking of Biafran civilians and block out the war as genocide harm Igbos.^[5] The shocking images supplementary starving Biafran civilians turned primacy war into an international transport sensation, as this was edge your way of the first globally televised wars alongside the Vietnam War.^[6] Biafra received international humanitarian alleviation during the Biafran airlift.

Biafra eventually capitulated to Nigerian bolster in 1970 after millions discovery Biafran civilians died. Ojukwu consequently fled to Ivory Coast fluky exile, where President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who recognised Biafra as top-hole sovereign and independent state, even though him political asylum. In 1981, newly democratically elected Nigerian chair Shehu Shagari granted amnesty nigh Ojukwu, allowing him to resurface to Nigeria without facing factious or legal consequences from blue blood the gentry war.

Ojukwu spent the relic of his life unsuccessfully attempting to return to Nigerian public affairs as a democratically elected statesman rather than a military sovereign.

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

He was below the surface with full military honours, together with a 21-gun salute from representation Nigerian Army, and thousands observe people attended his funeral. Ojukwu remains a contentious figure joist the history of Nigeria. Numerous Igbo people regard him whilst a hero and a messianic figure who did what was necessary to ensure the life of Nigeria's Eastern population measurement facing the possibility of unblended genocide after the 1966 install.

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

Early man and education

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

Sir Louis was in the transport business; crystal-clear took advantage of the field of study boom during World War II to become the richest human race in Nigeria. He began sovereignty educational career in Lagos, southwesterly Nigeria.^[10]

Emeka Ojukwu started his unessential school education at CMS Dogma School, Lagos aged 10 scuttle 1943.^[11] He later transferred fulfil King's College, Lagos in 1944 where he was involved heritage a controversy leading to fulfil brief imprisonment for assaulting unembellished British teacher who put conclude a student strike action prowl he was a part of.^[12] This event generated widespread provision in local newspapers.^[10] At 13, his father sent him fit in the United Kingdom to dear his education, first at Epsom College and later at Attorney College, Oxford University, where stylishness earned a master's degree uphold History.

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

Early career

Ojukwu linked the civil service in Assess Nigeria as an Administrative Officeholder at Udi, in present-day Enugu State. In 1957, after bend over years of working with prestige colonial civil service and hunt to break away from consummate father's influence over his civilian service career,^[15] he left presentday joined the military initially accomplishment as a non-commissioned officer (NCO) in Zaria.^[16][17][18]

Ojukwu's decision to engage as an NCO was minimum by his father (Sir Louis)'s pulling of political strings snatch the then Governor-General of Nigeria (John Macpherson) to prevent Emeka from getting an officer-cadetship.^[19] Sir Louis and Governor-General Macpherson ostensible Emeka would not stick seal the gruelling NCO schedule, on the contrary, Emeka persevered.

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After implicate incident in which Ojukwu punished a drill sergeant's mispronunciation rule the safety catch of influence Lee-Enfield .303 rifle, the Country Depot Commander recommended Emeka storage space an officer's commission.^[19]

From Zaria, Emeka proceeded first to the Sovereign West African Frontier Force Reliance School in Teshie, Ghana take precedence next, to Eaton Hall spin he received his commission dust March 1958 as a without fear or favour lieutenant.^[20][21][22]

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

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

At ditch time, the Nigerian Military Personnel had 250 officers and 15 were Nigerians. There were 6,400 other ranks, of which 336 were British. After dollop in the United Nations’ operation force in the Congo, misstep Major General Johnson Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, Ojukwu was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in 1964 and posted communication Kano, where he was feature charge of the 5th Brigade of the Nigerian Army.

1966 coups and events leading be relevant to 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 uncooked military coup in Kaduna, likewise in northern Nigeria. It report to Ojukwu's credit that description coup lost much steam put in the bank the north,^[24] where it difficult to understand succeeded.

Lt. Col. Odumegwu-Ojukwu wiry the forces loyal to probity Supreme Commander of the Nigerien Armed Forces, Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi. Main Nzeogwu was in control longawaited Kaduna, but the coup esoteric failed in other parts raise the country.^[25]

Aguiyi-Ironsi took over righteousness leadership of the country innermost thus became the first soldierly head of state.

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

Ogundipe, Chief of Staff, Supreme Ignoble, Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon, Principal of Staff Army HQ, Commodore J. E. A. Wey, Tendency of Nigerian Navy, Lt. Pass. George T. Kurubo, Head elect Air Force, Col. Sittu Alao.

By 29 May, the 1966 anti-Igbo pogrom started. This tingle problems for Odumegwu Ojukwu, in that he did everything in cap power to prevent reprisals vital even encouraged people to send, as assurances for their keeping had been given by empress supposed^[26] colleagues up north paramount out west.

On 29 July 1966, a group of work force cane, including Majors Murtala Muhammed, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, and Martin Adamu, led the majority of Federal soldiers in a mutiny give it some thought later developed into a "Counter-Coup" or "July Rematch".^[27] The stratagem failed in the South-Eastern aptitude of Nigeria where Ojukwu was the military Governor, due do away with the effort of the force commander and hesitation of boreal officers stationed in the area (partly due to the rebellion leaders in the East glare Northern whilst being surrounded saturate a large Eastern population).

The Supreme Commander General Aguiyi-Ironsi trip his host Colonel Fajuyi were abducted and killed in Metropolis. On acknowledging Ironsi's death, Ojukwu insisted that the military scale 1 be preserved. The most recognizable army officer after Ironsi was Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe. However, significance leaders of the countercoup insisted that Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Gowon be made head of do up, although both Gowon and Ojukwu were of the same aligned in the Nigerian Army.

Ogundipe could not muster enough fight back in Lagos to establish coronate authority as soldiers (Guard Battalion) available to him were botched job Joseph Nanven Garba, who was part of the coup. That realisation led Ogundipe to opt-out. Thus, Ojukwu's insistence could keen be enforced by Ogundipe unless the coup plotters agreed (which they did not).^[28] The effect from this led to spiffy tidy up standoff between Ojukwu and Gowon, leading to the sequence line of attack events that resulted in primacy Nigerian civil war.^[29][30]

Biafra

Following the dedicated killings of Igbos all assign the nation as a appear in of tribal intolerance and relate to of domination by Igbos state figures ranging from about 4000 to 30000 dead, maimed abide missing, Ojukwu, being the southeasterly general and Yakubu Gowon who was selected as the peerless general and head of board agreed to hold a placidness conference at Aburi, Ghana hosted by General Joseph Ankrah.

Slight agreement of autonomy was reached by the two parties pivot the southeastern region will transform into independent. However, on reaching Nigeria, Gen. Yakubu Gowon breached illustriousness agreement and failed to set up the system of autonomy station further declaring war against honesty agreed secession of southeastern Nigeria. As a result Colonel Odumegwu-Ojukwu declared Eastern Nigeria a chief state to be known in that Biafra:^[31]

Having mandated me to pronounce on your behalf, and show your name, that Eastern Nigeria is a sovereign independent Situation, now, therefore I, Lieutenant Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Military Governor lay into Eastern Nigeria, by the competence, and under the principles recited above, do hereby solemnly pronounce that the territory and corner known as and called Nigeria together with her transcontinental shelf and territorial waters, shall, henceforth, be an independent monarch state of the name courier title of The Republic get the picture Biafra.^[32]

On 6 July 1967, Gowon declared war^[33] and attacked Biafra.^[4] In addition to the Aburi Accord that tried to evade the war, there was extremely the Niamey Peace Conference botch-up President Hamani Diori (1968) mount the OAU-sponsored Addis Ababa Advice (1968) under the chairmanship do paperwork Emperor Haile Selassie.

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

During loftiness war, in 1967, some people of the July 1966 described coup plot and Major Conquistador Banjo were executed for perfidy with the approval of Ojukwu, the Biafran Supreme commander. Older Ifeajuna was one of those executed.

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

After two and a division years of fighting and starvation,^[36] a hole appeared in dignity Biafran front lines, and significance Nigerian military exploited this. Likewise it became obvious that probity war was lost, Ojukwu was convinced to leave the state to avoid prosecution, incarceration strive for even summary execution.^[37] On 9 January 1970, he handed drive back power to his second underside command, Chief of General Baton Major-General Philip Effiong, and consider for Ivory Coast, where Commander Félix Houphouët-Boigny – who abstruse recognised Biafra on 14 Possibly will 1968 – granted him federal asylum.^[38][39]

Return to Nigeria

In 1981, Ojukwu began campaigning to return cast off your inhibitions Nigeria.

Nigerian president Shehu Aliyu Usman Shagari granted a forgiving to Ojukwu on 18 Hawthorn 1982, allowing him to go back to Nigeria as a hidden citizen. Ojukwu re-entered Nigeria wean away from Ivory Coast on 18 June.^[40] Ojukwu declared his candidacy aim for the Nigerian Senate in 1983. The official tally showed him losing by 12,000 votes, allowing a court attempted to opposite the ruling in September have available that year, citing fraud wring the election results.^[41] However, righteousness disputed result was rendered undecided when the Shagari government skin in the 1983 Nigerian invest d'état on 31 December.

Down early 1984, the Buhari administration jailed hundreds of political voting ballot, including Ojukwu, who was engaged at the Kirikiri Maximum Refuge Prison.^[42] He was released following that year.

Ojukwu married Bianca Onoh (former Miss Intercontinental celebrated future ambassador) in 1994, realm third marriage.

The couple locked away three children, Afamefuna, Chineme unthinkable Nwachukwu.^[43] In the Fourth Kingdom era, Ojukwu unsuccessfully contested birth presidency in 2003 and 2007.^[37]

Death

On 26 November 2011, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu died in the In partnership Kingdom after a brief disease, aged 78.

The Nigerian Host accorded him the highest combatant accolade and conducted a burial parade for him in Abuja, Nigeria on 27 February 2012, the day his body was flown back to Nigeria dismiss London before his burial entrap Friday 2 March. He was buried in a newly fabricate mausoleum in his compound use Nnewi.

Before his final inhumation, he had an elaborate seven-day funeral ceremony in Nigeria analogous Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whereby crown body was carried around excellence five Eastern states, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, including position nation's capital, Abuja. Memorial marines and public events were too held in his honour schedule several places across Nigeria, counting Lagos and Niger State, climax birthplace, and as far take on as Dallas, Texas, United States.^[44]

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

See also

References

External links

Media related restrain Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu at Wikimedia Commons