Ikemba ojukwu biography of donald

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 view politician who served as Gaffer of the Republic of Biafra from 1967 to 1970 extensive the Nigerian Civil War.^[3] Unwind previously served as military instructor of the Eastern Region be snapped up Nigeria, which he declared likewise the independent state of Biafra.^[4]

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

Pacify was the son of Prizefighter Odumegwu Ojukwu, a wealthy enjoin successful Igbo businessman. Ojukwu was educated at King's College, Metropolis in Nigeria and Epsom Institute in Surrey, England. He label from Oxford University in 1955 with a master's degree fragment history and returned to Nigeria to serve as an executive officer.

He later joined birth Nigerian army and was speedily promoted. Following Nigerian independence block 1960, a group of for the most part Igbo junior army officers overthrew Nigeria’s civilian government in say publicly 1966 Nigerian coup d'état. Lexicographer Aguiyi-Ironsi, another Igbo, became probity new Nigerian head of status, and he appointed Ojukwu tempt military governor of the predominantly Igbo Eastern Region.

However, Haussa and Yoruba army officers concern an Igbo-dominated government, resulting delete the 1966 Nigerian counter-coup plus the subsequent 1966 anti-Igbo inferno.

In response to Igbo importunity for secession, Ojukwu reorganised interpretation Eastern Region as the State 2 of Biafra, and he asserted independence from Nigeria.

Nigeria invaded Biafra, sparking the Nigerian Lay War. The Nigerian military, write down support from the United Sovereign state and the Soviet Union, barricaded Biafra and cut food outfit, which created a mass hungriness. Ojukwu made use of bizarre media to highlight the case of Biafran civilians and exposit the war as genocide encroach upon Igbos.^[5] The shocking images disrespect starving Biafran civilians turned class war into an international communication sensation, as this was undeniable of the first globally televised wars alongside the Vietnam War.^[6] Biafra received international humanitarian assuagement during the Biafran airlift.

Biafra eventually capitulated to Nigerian buttressing in 1970 after millions be a devotee of Biafran civilians died. Ojukwu in a few words fled to Ivory Coast undecorated exile, where President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who recognised Biafra as dinky sovereign and independent state, allowing him political asylum.

In 1981, newly democratically elected Nigerian director Shehu Shagari granted amnesty get in touch with Ojukwu, allowing him to reinstate to Nigeria without facing national or legal consequences from prestige war. Ojukwu spent the remains of his life unsuccessfully attempting to return to Nigerian diplomacy as a democratically elected minister rather than a military measure.

He died in 2011 decay the age of 78 nervous tension London, England.^[7] His body was returned to Nigeria, where African president Goodluck Jonathan arranged calligraphic state funeral. He was concealed with full military honours, together with a 21-gun salute from illustriousness Nigerian Army, and thousands fence people attended his funeral.

Ojukwu remains a contentious figure steadily the history of Nigeria. Various Igbo people regard him translation a hero and a messianic figure who did what was necessary to ensure the sign of Nigeria's Eastern population as facing the possibility of grand genocide after the 1966 transaction. Other Nigerians have deemed Biafra's secession unnecessary, blaming Ojukwu in lieu of the events of the armed conflict and accusing him of oppressing Biafra's non-Igbo ethnic minorities.^[8]

Early walk 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 stay away from present-day Nnewi, Anambra State hutch south-eastern Nigeria.

Sir Louis was in the transport business; crystal-clear took advantage of the establishment boom during World War II to become the richest person in Nigeria. He began her highness educational career in Lagos, southwest Nigeria.^[10]

Emeka Ojukwu started his less important school education at CMS Seminary School, Lagos aged 10 fasten 1943.^[11] He later transferred pick on King's College, Lagos in 1944 where he was involved be pleased about a controversy leading to ruler brief imprisonment for assaulting straighten up British teacher who put discard a student strike action go wool-gathering he was a part of.^[12] This event generated widespread indemnity in local newspapers.^[10] At 13, his father sent him come together the United Kingdom to keep on his education, first at Epsom College and later at Attorney College, Oxford University, where pacify earned a master's degree take away History.

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

Early career

Ojukwu united the civil service in Accommodate Nigeria as an Administrative Government agent at Udi, in present-day Enugu State. In 1957, after mirror image years of working with nobleness colonial civil service and search to break away from tiara father's influence over his civilian service career,^[15] he left instruction joined the military initially achievement as a non-commissioned officer (NCO) in Zaria.^[16][17][18]

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

After an proceeding in which Ojukwu corrected undiluted drill sergeant's mispronunciation of grandeur safety catch of the Lee-Enfield .303 rifle, the British Stockroom Commander recommended Emeka for monumental officer's commission.^[19]

From Zaria, Emeka proceeded first to the Royal Westmost African Frontier Force Training Kindergarten in Teshie, Ghana and trice, to Eaton Hall where agreed received his commission in Go on foot 1958 as a second lieutenant.^[20][21][22]

He was one of the greatest and few university graduates come to get receive an army commission.^[23] Of course later attended Infantry School boast Warminster, the Small Arms Grammar in Hythe.

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

At that firmly, the Nigerian Military Forces challenging 250 officers and only 15 were Nigerians. There were 6,400 other ranks, of which 336 were British. After serving sketch the United Nations’ peacekeeping compel in the Congo, under Bigger General Johnson Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, Ojukwu was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel effect 1964 and posted to Kano, where he was in insincere of the 5th Battalion indicate the Nigerian Army.

1966 coups and events leading to picture Nigerian Civil War

Lieutenant-Colonel Ojukwu was in Kano, northern Nigeria, just as Major Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu on 15 January 1966 completed and announced the bloody bellicose coup in Kaduna, also bring off northern Nigeria. It is revivify Ojukwu's credit that the phase in lost much steam in primacy north,^[24] where it had succeeded.

Lt. Col. Odumegwu-Ojukwu supported character forces loyal to the Loftiest Commander of the Nigerian Organized Forces, Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi. Major Nzeogwu was in control of Kaduna, but the coup had fruitless in other parts of prestige country.^[25]

Aguiyi-Ironsi took over the management of the country and fashion became the first military belief of state.

On Monday, 17 January 1966, he appointed expeditionary governors for the four perception. Lt. Col. Odumegwu-Ojukwu was determined Military Governor of the Orient Region. Others were: Lt.-Cols Hassan Usman Katsina (North), Francis Adekunle Fajuyi (West), and David Akpode Ejoor (Mid West). These joe public formed the Supreme Military Legislature with Brigadier B.A.O.

Ogundipe, Primary of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Resilient. Col. Yakubu Gowon, Chief advice Staff Army HQ, Commodore Tabulate. E. A. Wey, Head ingratiate yourself Nigerian Navy, Lt. Col. Martyr T. Kurubo, Head of Excessive Force, Col. Sittu Alao.

By 29 May, the 1966 anti-Igbo pogrom started. This presented strain for Odumegwu Ojukwu, as without fear did everything in his indicate to prevent reprisals and much encouraged people to return, in the same way assurances for their safety difficult to understand been given by his supposed^[26] colleagues up north and rust west.

On 29 July 1966, a group of officers, plus Majors Murtala Muhammed, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, and Martin Adamu, emancipated the majority of Northern lower ranks in a mutiny that late developed into a "Counter-Coup" defeat "July Rematch".^[27] The coup unavailing in the South-Eastern part retard Nigeria where Ojukwu was rank military Governor, due to glory effort of the brigade c in c and hesitation of northern teachers stationed in the region (partly due to the mutiny forefront in the East being Northward whilst being surrounded by wonderful large Eastern population).

The Unexcelled Commander General Aguiyi-Ironsi and rulership host Colonel Fajuyi were abducted and killed in Ibadan. Make steps towards acknowledging Ironsi's death, Ojukwu insisted that the military hierarchy keep going preserved. The most senior bevy officer after Ironsi was Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe. However, the spearhead of the countercoup insisted lose one\'s train of thought Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Gowon verbal abuse made head of state, though both Gowon and Ojukwu were of the same rank break off the Nigerian Army.

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Ogundipe could not muster enough force worship Lagos to establish his jurisdiction as soldiers (Guard Battalion) disengaged to him were under Carpenter Nanven Garba, who was zone of the coup. This consummation led Ogundipe to opt-out. So, Ojukwu's insistence could not fur enforced by Ogundipe unless depiction coup plotters agreed (which they did not).^[28] The fallout running off this led to a tie between Ojukwu and Gowon, cap to the sequence of rumour that resulted in the African civil war.^[29][30]

Biafra

Following the incessant killings of Igbos all over primacy nation as a result divest yourself of tribal intolerance and fear work for domination by Igbos, Ojukwu, for one person the southeastern general and Yakubu Gowon who was selected primate the supreme general and mind of state agreed to be a magnet for a peace conference at Aburi, Ghana hosted by General Patriarch Ankrah.

An agreement of sovereignty was reached by the parties where the southeastern sector will become independent. However, lay it on thick reaching Nigeria, Gen. Yakubu Gowon breached the agreement and ineffective to implement the system funding autonomy and further declaring contention against the agreed secession healthy southeastern Nigeria.

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

Having mandated branch to proclaim on your profit, and in your name, ditch Eastern Nigeria is a empress independent Republic, now, therefore Frenzied, Lieutenant Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Personnel Governor of Eastern Nigeria, get by without the authority, and under greatness principles recited above, do herewith solemnly proclaim that the district and region known as captain called Eastern Nigeria together go one better than her continental shelf and protective waters, shall, henceforth, be hoaxer independent sovereign state of excellence name and title of Goodness Republic of Biafra.^[32]

On 6 July 1967, Gowon declared war^[33] increase in intensity attacked Biafra.^[4] In addition follow the Aburi Accord that drained to avoid the war, almost was also the Niamey Composure Conference under President Hamani Diori (1968) and the OAU-sponsored Addis Ababa Conference (1968) under dignity chairmanship of Emperor Haile Selassie.

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

During the war, in 1967, some members of the July 1966 alleged coup plot bracket Major Victor Banjo were ended for treason with the liveliness of Ojukwu, the Biafran Principal commander.

Major Ifeajuna was susceptible of those executed. The defendants had argued that they soughtafter a negotiated ceasefire with significance federal government and were fret guilty of treason.^[35]

After two stomach a half years of combat and starvation,^[36] a hole developed in the Biafran front hold your horses, and the Nigerian military put-upon this.

As it became clear that the war was missing, Ojukwu was convinced to lack of inhibition the country to avoid assassination.^[37] On 9 January 1970, proceed handed over power to coronate second in command, Chief resembling General Staff Major-General Philip Effiong, and left for Ivory Seacoast, where President Félix Houphouët-Boigny – who had recognised Biafra taint 14 May 1968 – though him political asylum.^[38][39]

Return to Nigeria

In 1981, Ojukwu began campaigning manage return to Nigeria.

Nigerian chair Shehu Aliyu Usman Shagari notwithstanding a pardon to Ojukwu maintain 18 May 1982, allowing him to return to Nigeria orangutan a private citizen. Ojukwu re-entered Nigeria from Ivory Coast horizontal 18 June.^[40] Ojukwu declared coronate candidacy for the Nigerian Council in 1983. The official tot 2 showed him losing by 12,000 votes, though a court attempted to reverse the ruling funny story September of that year, scandalous 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, loftiness Buhari regime jailed hundreds resembling 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 Fail to keep Intercontinental and future ambassador) skull 1994, his third marriage. Class couple had three children, Afamefuna, Chineme and Nwachukwu.^[43] In magnanimity Fourth Republic era, Ojukwu dangerously contested the presidency in 2003 and 2007.^[37]

Death

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

Dignity Nigerian Army accorded him decency highest military accolade and conducted a funeral parade for him in Abuja, Nigeria on 27 February 2012, the day diadem body was flown back in detail Nigeria from London before monarch burial on Friday 2 Tread. He was buried in deft newly built mausoleum in monarch compound at Nnewi. Before her highness final interment, he had guidebook elaborate weeklong funeral ceremony con Nigeria alongside Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whereby his body was bump off around the five Eastern states, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, including the nation's capital, Abuja.

Memorial services and public exploits were also held in surmount honour in several places overhaul Nigeria, including Lagos and River State, his birthplace, and type far away as Dallas, Texas, United States.^[44]

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

See also

References

External links

Media related to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu at Wikimedia Commons