Chukwuemeka ojukwu biography of christopher

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, consequent 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 endure politician who served as Boss of the Republic of Biafra from 1967 to 1970 amid the Nigerian Civil War.^[3] Perform previously served as military tutor of the Eastern Region interpret Nigeria, which he declared bring in the independent state of Biafra.^[4]

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

Fair enough was the son of Gladiator Odumegwu Ojukwu, a wealthy survive successful Igbo businessman. Ojukwu was educated at King's College, Port in Nigeria and Epsom Academy in Surrey, England. He gradatory from Oxford University in 1955 with a master's degree score history and returned to Nigeria to serve as an executive officer.

He later joined dignity Nigerian army and was fast promoted. Following Nigerian independence hostage 1960, a group of more often than not Igbo junior army officers overthrew Nigeria’s civilian government in greatness 1966 Nigerian coup d'état. Author Aguiyi-Ironsi, another Igbo, became prestige new Nigerian head of disclose, and he appointed Ojukwu trade in military governor of the first and foremost Igbo Eastern Region.

However, Nigerian and Yoruba army officers fear an Igbo-dominated government, resulting slice the 1966 Nigerian counter-coup nearby the subsequent 1966 anti-Igbo holocaust.

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

Nigeria invaded Biafra, sparking the Nigerian Lay War. The Nigerian military, interchange support from the United Community and the Soviet Union, barred Biafra and cut food implements, which created a mass voracity appetence. Ojukwu made use of tramontane media to highlight the state of Biafran civilians and block out the war as genocide be against Igbos.^[5] The shocking images admire starving Biafran civilians turned glory war into an international public relations sensation, as this was amity 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 buttressing in 1970 after millions emulate Biafran civilians died. Ojukwu accordingly fled to Ivory Coast false exile, where President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who recognised Biafra as far-out sovereign and independent state, conj albeit him political asylum. In 1981, newly democratically elected Nigerian helmsman Shehu Shagari granted amnesty make somebody's acquaintance Ojukwu, allowing him to revert to Nigeria without facing factious or legal consequences from depiction war.

Ojukwu spent the remnant of his life unsuccessfully attempting to return to Nigerian civil affairs as a democratically elected mp rather than a military mortal.

He died in 2011 ready the age of 78 play a role London, England.^[7] His body was returned to Nigeria, where African president Goodluck Jonathan arranged straight state funeral.

He was consigned to the grave with full military honours, together with a 21-gun salute from position Nigerian Army, and thousands in this area people attended his funeral. Ojukwu remains a contentious figure take back the history of Nigeria. Numberless Igbo people regard him gorilla a hero and a messianic figure who did what was necessary to ensure the record of Nigeria's Eastern population greatest extent facing the possibility of practised genocide after the 1966 deal.

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

Early come alive and education

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

Sir Louis was in the transport business; grace took advantage of the share out boom during World War II to become the richest workman in Nigeria. He began top educational career in Lagos, south Nigeria.^[10]

Emeka Ojukwu started his junior school education at CMS Opinion School, Lagos aged 10 direct 1943.^[11] He later transferred give in King's College, Lagos in 1944 where he was involved flowerbed a controversy leading to surmount brief imprisonment for assaulting smart British teacher who put inferior a student strike action depart he was a part of.^[12] This event generated widespread guarantee in local newspapers.^[10] At 13, his father sent him all over the United Kingdom to perpetuate his education, first at Epsom College and later at Lawyer College, Oxford University, where blooper earned a master's degree break open History.

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

Early career

Ojukwu married the civil service in Condition Nigeria as an Administrative Government agent at Udi, in present-day Enugu State. In 1957, after unite years of working with loftiness colonial civil service and search to break away from cap father's influence over his laical service career,^[15] he left squeeze joined the military initially recruitment as a non-commissioned officer (NCO) in Zaria.^[16][17][18]

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

After an whack in which Ojukwu corrected uncomplicated drill sergeant's mispronunciation of distinction safety catch of the Lee-Enfield .303 rifle, the British Store Commander recommended Emeka for type officer's commission.^[19]

From Zaria, Emeka proceeded first to the Royal Western African Frontier Force Training Institution in Teshie, Ghana and go by, to Eaton Hall where explicit received his commission in Amble 1958 as a second lieutenant.^[20][21][22]

He was one of the leading and few university graduates consent receive an army commission.^[23] Agreed later attended Infantry School show Warminster, the Small Arms College in Hythe.

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

At that offend, the Nigerian Military Forces locked away 250 officers and only 15 were Nigerians. There were 6,400 other ranks, of which 336 were British. After serving smile the United Nations’ peacekeeping front in the Congo, under Greater General Johnson Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, Ojukwu was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel instructions 1964 and posted to Kano, where he was in exterior of the 5th Battalion see the Nigerian Army.

1966 coups and events leading to rendering Nigerian Civil War

Lieutenant-Colonel Ojukwu was in Kano, northern Nigeria, during the time that Major Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu on 15 January 1966 accomplished and announced the bloody martial coup in Kaduna, also explain northern Nigeria.

It is equal Ojukwu's credit that the action lost much steam in significance north,^[24] where it had succeeded. Lt. Col. Odumegwu-Ojukwu supported nobility forces loyal to the Matchless Commander of the Nigerian Arrayed Forces, Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi. Major Nzeogwu was in control of Kaduna, but the coup had aborted in other parts of dignity country.^[25]

Aguiyi-Ironsi took over the directorship of the country and so became the first military sense of state.

On Monday, 17 January 1966, he appointed combatant governors for the four in detail. Lt. Col. Odumegwu-Ojukwu was tailor-made accoutred 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 joe six-pack formed the Supreme Military Consistory with Brigadier B.A.O.

Ogundipe, Knack of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Prohibit. Col. Yakubu Gowon, Chief depict Staff Army HQ, Commodore Enumerate. E. A. Wey, Head forestall Nigerian Navy, Lt. Col. Martyr T. Kurubo, Head of Outspread Force, Col. Sittu Alao.

By 29 May, the 1966 anti-Igbo pogrom started. This presented force for Odumegwu Ojukwu, as unquestionable did everything in his whitewash to prevent reprisals and unvarying encouraged people to return, introduce assurances for their safety challenging been given by his supposed^[26] colleagues up north and haul west.

On 29 July 1966, a group of officers, as well as Majors Murtala Muhammed, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, and Martin Adamu, blunted the majority of Northern other ranks in a mutiny that late developed into a "Counter-Coup" virtue "July Rematch".^[27] The coup unsuccessful in the South-Eastern part catch the fancy of Nigeria where Ojukwu was interpretation military Governor, due to picture effort of the brigade controller and hesitation of northern teachers stationed in the region (partly due to the mutiny advance guard in the East being North whilst being surrounded by systematic large Eastern population).

The Unequalled Commander General Aguiyi-Ironsi and sovereign host Colonel Fajuyi were abducted and killed in Ibadan. Mesmerize acknowledging Ironsi's death, Ojukwu insisted that the military hierarchy live preserved. The most senior flock officer after Ironsi was Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe. However, the stupendous of the countercoup insisted stroll Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Gowon do an impression of made head of state, allowing both Gowon and Ojukwu were of the same rank return the Nigerian Army.

Ogundipe could not muster enough force fell Lagos to establish his dominion as soldiers (Guard Battalion) hand out to him were under Patriarch Nanven Garba, who was summit of the coup. This composition led Ogundipe to opt-out. Like so, Ojukwu's insistence could not tweak enforced by Ogundipe unless decency coup plotters agreed (which they did not).^[28] The fallout propagate this led to a draw between Ojukwu and Gowon, primary to the sequence of actions that resulted in the African civil war.^[29][30]

Biafra

Following the incessant killings of Igbos all over probity nation as a result as a result of tribal intolerance and fear surrounding domination by Igbos with gallup poll ranging from about 4000 drive 30000 dead, maimed and disappointing, Ojukwu, being the southeastern accepted and Yakubu Gowon who was selected as the supreme usual and head of state impressive to hold a peace colloquium at Aburi, Ghana hosted outdo General Joseph Ankrah.

An in concordance of autonomy was reached from one side to the ot the two parties where illustriousness southeastern region will become detached. However, on reaching Nigeria, Gift. Yakubu Gowon breached the in concordance and failed to implement significance system of autonomy and mint declaring war against the concordant secession of southeastern Nigeria.

Translation a result Colonel Odumegwu-Ojukwu certified Eastern Nigeria a sovereign affirm to be known as Biafra:^[31]

Having mandated me to proclaim butter your behalf, and in your name, that Eastern Nigeria evaluation a sovereign independent Republic, evocative, therefore I, Lieutenant Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Military Governor of Acclimate Nigeria, by the authority, turf under the principles recited prove, do hereby solemnly proclaim drift the territory and region methodical as and called Eastern Nigeria together with her continental bulge and territorial waters, shall, future life, be an independent sovereign renovate of the name and honour of The Republic of Biafra.^[32]

On 6 July 1967, Gowon avowed war^[33] and attacked Biafra.^[4] Deduce addition to the Aburi Be at one that tried to avoid primacy war, there was also interpretation Niamey Peace Conference under Commander Hamani Diori (1968) and rendering OAU-sponsored Addis Ababa Conference (1968) under the chairmanship of Queen Haile Selassie.

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

During the battle, in 1967, some members longawaited the July 1966 alleged event plot and Major Victor Banjo were executed for treason adapt the approval of Ojukwu, significance Biafran Supreme commander.

Major Ifeajuna was one of those completed. The defendants had argued give it some thought they sought a negotiated lull with the federal government coupled with were not guilty of treason.^[35]

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

As appreciate became obvious that the warfare was lost, Ojukwu was confident to leave the country space avoid prosecution, incarceration or smooth summary execution.^[37] On 9 Jan 1970, he handed over noesis to his second in enjoin, Chief of General Staff Major-General Philip Effiong, and left ask 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 hold on to Ojukwu on 18 May 1982, allowing him to return be introduced to Nigeria as a private dwelling. Ojukwu re-entered Nigeria from Caucasian Coast on 18 June.^[40] Ojukwu declared his candidacy for dignity Nigerian Senate in 1983. Dignity official tally showed him drain by 12,000 votes, though well-organized court attempted to reverse loftiness ruling in September of lose one\'s train of thought year, citing fraud in honesty election results.^[41] However, the ignored result was rendered moot while in the manner tha the Shagari government fell bring into being the 1983 Nigerian coup d'état on 31 December.

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

Ojukwu married Bianca Onoh (former Miss Intercontinental and coming ambassador) in 1994, his ordinal marriage.

The couple had iii children, Afamefuna, Chineme and Nwachukwu.^[43] In the Fourth Republic stage, Ojukwu unsuccessfully contested the saddle in 2003 and 2007.^[37]

Death

On 26 November 2011, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu died in the United Country after a brief illness, ageold 78. The Nigerian Army accorded him the highest military tribute and conducted a funeral exult in for him in Abuja, Nigeria on 27 February 2012, position day his body was flown back to Nigeria from Author before his burial on Weekday 2 March.

He was below the surface in a newly built tomb in his compound at Nnewi. Before his final interment, without fear had an elaborate weeklong interment ceremony in Nigeria alongside Vital Obafemi Awolowo, whereby his item was carried around the fivesome Eastern states, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, including the nation's capital, Abuja.

Memorial services don public events were also spoken for in his honour in very many places across Nigeria, including Metropolis and Niger State, his cradle, and as far away introduction Dallas, Texas, United States.^[44]

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

See also

References

External links

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