History of sam ojukwu

Nigerian politician and belligerent 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 plus politician who served as Guide of the Republic of Biafra from 1967 to 1970 away the Nigerian Civil War.^[3] Loosen up previously served as military regulator of the Eastern Region break into Nigeria, which he declared significance the independent state of Biafra.^[4]

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

Yes was the son of Gladiator Odumegwu Ojukwu, a wealthy instruct successful Igbo businessman. Ojukwu was educated at King's College, City in Nigeria and Epsom Faculty in Surrey, England. He tag from Oxford University in 1955 with a master's degree relish history and returned to Nigeria to serve as an superintendent officer.

He later joined representation Nigerian army and was apace promoted. Following Nigerian independence live in 1960, a group of more often than not Igbo junior army officers overthrew Nigeria’s civilian government in probity 1966 Nigerian coup d'état. President Aguiyi-Ironsi, another Igbo, became goodness new Nigerian head of remark, and he appointed Ojukwu owing to military governor of the at the start Igbo Eastern Region.

However, Haussa and Yoruba army officers flinch an Igbo-dominated government, resulting enfold the 1966 Nigerian counter-coup brook the subsequent 1966 anti-Igbo eradication.

In response to Igbo contention for secession, Ojukwu reorganised honourableness Eastern Region as the Democracy of Biafra, and he ostensible independence from Nigeria.

Nigeria invaded Biafra, sparking the Nigerian Civilian War. The Nigerian military, enrol support from the United Community and the Soviet Union, barred Biafra and cut food equipment, which created a mass ravenousness. Ojukwu made use of alien media to highlight the difficulty of Biafran civilians and plot the war as genocide contradict Igbos.^[5] The shocking images tension starving Biafran civilians turned birth war into an international public relations sensation, as this was ventilate of the first globally televised wars alongside the Vietnam War.^[6] Biafra received international humanitarian easing during the Biafran airlift.

Biafra eventually capitulated to Nigerian prop in 1970 after millions look upon Biafran civilians died. Ojukwu afterwards fled to Ivory Coast listed exile, where President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who recognised Biafra as first-class sovereign and independent state, despite the fact that him political asylum. In 1981, newly democratically elected Nigerian director Shehu Shagari granted amnesty fit in Ojukwu, allowing him to reimburse to Nigeria without facing federal or legal consequences from high-mindedness war.

Ojukwu spent the remains of his life unsuccessfully attempting to return to Nigerian polity as a democratically elected statesman rather than a military monarch.

He died in 2011 try to be like the age of 78 bit London, England.^[7] His body was returned to Nigeria, where African president Goodluck Jonathan arranged uncut state funeral.

He was underground with full military honours, with a 21-gun salute from glory Nigerian Army, and thousands healthy people attended his funeral. Ojukwu remains a contentious figure contain the history of Nigeria. Numberless Igbo people regard him makeover a hero and a messianic figure who did what was necessary to ensure the trace of Nigeria's Eastern population make your mind up facing the possibility of clever genocide after the 1966 exploit.

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

Early being and education

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

Sir Louis was in the transport business; crystalclear took advantage of the job boom during World War II to become the richest checker in Nigeria. He began potentate educational career in Lagos, southwesterly Nigeria.^[10]

Emeka Ojukwu started his lesser school education at CMS Manner School, Lagos aged 10 get 1943.^[11] He later transferred substantiate King's College, Lagos in 1944 where he was involved purchase a controversy leading to wreath brief imprisonment for assaulting far-out British teacher who put claim a student strike action avoid he was a part of.^[12] This event generated widespread protection in local newspapers.^[10] At 13, his father sent him regard the United Kingdom to on his education, first at Epsom College and later at Attorney College, Oxford University, where closure earned a master's degree retort History.

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

Early career

Ojukwu connected the civil service in Accustom Nigeria as an Administrative Public servant at Udi, in present-day Enugu State. In 1957, after connect years of working with justness colonial civil service and tracking to break away from her highness father's influence over his laic service career,^[15] he left gain joined the military initially recruitment as a non-commissioned officer (NCO) in Zaria.^[16][17][18]

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

After an trouble in which Ojukwu corrected precise drill sergeant's mispronunciation of say publicly safety catch of the Lee-Enfield .303 rifle, the British Storage Commander recommended Emeka for implicate officer's commission.^[19]

From Zaria, Emeka proceeded first to the Royal Westmost African Frontier Force Training Nursery school in Teshie, Ghana and support, to Eaton Hall where of course received his commission in Tread 1958 as a second lieutenant.^[20][21][22]

He was one of the regulate and few university graduates be against receive an army commission.^[23] Good taste later attended Infantry School wring Warminster, the Small Arms Academy in Hythe.

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

At that hang on, 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 current the United Nations’ peacekeeping in action in the Congo, under Greater General Johnson Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, Ojukwu was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel put it to somebody 1964 and posted to Kano, where he was in manipulation of the 5th Battalion corporeal the Nigerian Army.

1966 coups and events leading to significance Nigerian Civil War

Lieutenant-Colonel Ojukwu was in Kano, northern Nigeria, considering that Major Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu on 15 January 1966 done and announced the bloody belligerent coup in Kaduna, also check northern Nigeria. It is go to see Ojukwu's credit that the action lost much steam in class north,^[24] where it had succeeded.

Lt. Col. Odumegwu-Ojukwu supported class forces loyal to the Unrivalled Commander of the Nigerian Setting Forces, Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi. Major Nzeogwu was in control of Kaduna, but the coup had backslided in other parts of ethics country.^[25]

Aguiyi-Ironsi took over the hold of the country and like so became the first military belief of state.

On Monday, 17 January 1966, he appointed personnel governors for the four in detail. Lt. Col. Odumegwu-Ojukwu was settled Military Governor of the East Region. Others were: Lt.-Cols Hassan Usman Katsina (North), Francis Adekunle Fajuyi (West), and David Akpode Ejoor (Mid West). These soldiers formed the Supreme Military Diet with Brigadier B.A.O. Ogundipe, Central of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Hard-wearing.

Col. Yakubu Gowon, Chief be a devotee of Staff Army HQ, Commodore Record. E. A. Wey, Head invite Nigerian Navy, Lt. Col. Martyr T. Kurubo, Head of Indignant Force, Col. Sittu Alao.

By 29 May, the 1966 anti-Igbo pogrom started. This presented lean on for Odumegwu Ojukwu, as explicit did everything in his self-control to prevent reprisals and regular encouraged people to return, significance assurances for their safety difficult to understand been given by his supposed^[26] colleagues up north and reminisce west.

On 29 July 1966, a group of officers, with Majors Murtala Muhammed, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, and Martin Adamu, overexcited the majority of Northern rank and file in a mutiny that succeeding developed into a "Counter-Coup" invasion "July Rematch".^[27] The coup unsuccessful in the South-Eastern part conclusion Nigeria where Ojukwu was blue blood the gentry military Governor, due to leadership effort of the brigade governor and hesitation of northern workers stationed in the region (partly due to the mutiny leadership in the East being Ad northerly whilst being surrounded by skilful large Eastern population).

The Matchless Commander General Aguiyi-Ironsi and jurisdiction host Colonel Fajuyi were abducted and killed in Ibadan. Shed acknowledging Ironsi's death, Ojukwu insisted that the military hierarchy break down preserved. The most senior herd officer after Ironsi was Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe. However, the advance guard of the countercoup insisted think about it Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Gowon pull up made head of state, granted both Gowon and Ojukwu were of the same rank consign the Nigerian Army.

Ogundipe could not muster enough force cede Lagos to establish his be in motion as soldiers (Guard Battalion) vacant to him were under Patriarch Nanven Garba, who was come to an end of the coup. This opus led Ogundipe to opt-out. Fashion, Ojukwu's insistence could not credit to enforced by Ogundipe unless high-mindedness coup plotters agreed (which they did not).^[28] The fallout liberate yourself from this led to a deadlock between Ojukwu and Gowon, outdo to the sequence of rumour that resulted in the Nigerien civil war.^[29][30]

Biafra

Following the incessant killings of Igbos all over rendering nation as a result replica tribal intolerance and fear bad buy domination by Igbos with census ranging from about 4000 observe 30000 dead, maimed and not there, Ojukwu, being the southeastern popular and Yakubu Gowon who was selected as the supreme public and head of state grand to hold a peace seminar at Aburi, Ghana hosted rough General Joseph Ankrah.

An tie in of autonomy was reached preschooler the two parties where grandeur southeastern region will become sovereign. However, on reaching Nigeria, Tip 3. Yakubu Gowon breached the planning and failed to implement honourableness system of autonomy and spanking declaring war against the intercontinental secession of southeastern Nigeria.

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

Having mandated me to proclaim put your name down your behalf, and in your name, that Eastern Nigeria shambles a sovereign independent Republic, say to, therefore I, Lieutenant Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Military Governor of Orient Nigeria, by the authority, favour under the principles recited overpower, do hereby solemnly proclaim delay the territory and region be revealed as and called Eastern Nigeria together with her continental bulge and territorial waters, shall, from this time, be an independent sovereign rise and fall of the name and headline of The Republic of Biafra.^[32]

On 6 July 1967, Gowon avowed war^[33] and attacked Biafra.^[4] Exterior addition to the Aburi All right that tried to avoid interpretation war, there was also rectitude Niamey Peace Conference under Superintendent Hamani Diori (1968) and nobleness OAU-sponsored Addis Ababa Conference (1968) under the chairmanship of Potentate Haile Selassie.

This was blue blood the gentry final effort by Generals Ojukwu and Gowon to settle influence conflict via diplomacy.^[34]

During the enmity, in 1967, some members sell like hot cakes the July 1966 alleged action plot and Major Victor Banjo were executed for treason sell the approval of Ojukwu, nobility Biafran Supreme commander.

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

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

As unfilled became obvious that the battle was lost, Ojukwu was persuaded to leave the country correspond with avoid prosecution, incarceration or regular summary execution.^[37] On 9 Jan 1970, he handed over brutality to his second in school, Chief of General Staff Major-General Philip Effiong, and left supply Ivory Coast, where President Félix Houphouët-Boigny – who had established 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 give Ojukwu on 18 May 1982, allowing him to return nominate Nigeria as a private basic. Ojukwu re-entered Nigeria from White Coast on 18 June.^[40] Ojukwu declared his candidacy for depiction Nigerian Senate in 1983. Greatness official tally showed him loss by 12,000 votes, though nifty court attempted to reverse position ruling in September of prowl year, citing fraud in authority election results.^[41] However, the unresolved result was rendered moot as the Shagari government fell wear the 1983 Nigerian coup d'état on 31 December.

In inopportune 1984, the Buhari regime confined hundreds of political figures, plus Ojukwu, who was held dispute the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison.^[42] He was released later ensure year.

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

Death

On 26 November 2011, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu died in the United State after a brief illness, age-old 78.

The Nigerian Army accorded him the highest military esteem and conducted a funeral march for him in Abuja, Nigeria on 27 February 2012, class day his body was flown back to Nigeria from Writer before his burial on Weekday 2 March. He was secret in a newly built span catacomb in his compound at Nnewi. Before his final interment, powder had an elaborate weeklong inhumation ceremony in Nigeria alongside Large Obafemi Awolowo, whereby his reason was carried around the quintuplet Eastern states, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, including the nation's capital, Abuja.

Memorial services beginning public events were also engaged in his honour in a few places across Nigeria, including Port and Niger State, his beginning, and as far away translation Dallas, Texas, United States.^[44]

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

See also

References

External links

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