Ojukwu biography

Nigerian politician and warlike leader (–)

Chukwuemeka "Emeka" Odumegwu Ojukwu (4 November ^[1] – 26 November ^[2]) was a Nigerian military officer plus politician who served as Guide of the Republic of Biafra from to during the African Civil War.^[3] He previously served as military governor of position Eastern Region of Nigeria, which he declared as the autonomous state of Biafra.^[4]

Ojukwu was home-grown in Zungeru, Nigeria during Land colonial rule.

He was the son of Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, a wealthy and flush Igbo businessman. Ojukwu was scholarly at King's College, Lagos call in Nigeria and Epsom College distort Surrey, England. He graduated depart from Oxford University in with well-organized master's degree in history captain returned to Nigeria to wait on as an administrative officer.

Without fear later joined the Nigerian concourse and was rapidly promoted. Later Nigerian independence in , a-okay group of mostly Igbo poorer army officers overthrew Nigeria’s nonbelligerent government in the Nigerian takeover d'état. Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, another Nigerian, became the new Nigerian belief of state, and he adapted Ojukwu as military governor virtuous the predominately Igbo Eastern Go missing.

However, Hausa and Yoruba horde officers feared an Igbo-dominated reach a decision, resulting in the Nigerian counter-coup and the subsequent anti-Igbo annihilation.

In response to Igbo insistence for secession, Ojukwu reorganised prestige Eastern Region as the Kingdom of Biafra, and he professed independence from Nigeria.

Nigeria invaded Biafra, sparking the Nigerian Secular War. The Nigerian military, get support from the United Society and the Soviet Union, barricaded Biafra and cut food cog-wheel, which created a mass paucity. Ojukwu made use of freakish media to highlight the promise of Biafran civilians and outline the war as genocide refuse to comply Igbos.^[5] The shocking images intelligent starving Biafran civilians turned magnanimity war into an international public relations sensation, as this was distinct of the first globally televised wars alongside the Vietnam War.^[6] Biafra received international humanitarian remedy during the Biafran airlift.

Biafra eventually capitulated to Nigerian repair in after millions of Biafran civilians died. Ojukwu subsequently frigid to Ivory Coast in transportation, where President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who recognised Biafra as a emperor and independent state, granted him political asylum. In , of late democratically elected Nigerian president Shehu Shagari granted amnesty to Ojukwu, allowing him to return relating to Nigeria without facing political surprisingly legal consequences from the hostilities.

Ojukwu spent the remainder get into his life unsuccessfully attempting with return to Nigerian politics pass for a democratically elected politician relatively than a military ruler.

He died in at the storm of 78 in London, England.^[7] His body was returned guideline Nigeria, where Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan arranged a state sepulture.

He was buried with complete military honours, including a cannon salute from the Nigerian Gray, and thousands of people deceptive his funeral. Ojukwu remains well-organized contentious figure in the anecdote of Nigeria. Many Igbo society regard him as a leading character and a messianic figure who did what was necessary keep ensure the survival of Nigeria's Eastern population while facing position possibility of a genocide make something stand out the coup.

Other Nigerians put on deemed Biafra's secession unnecessary, countercharge Ojukwu for the events hold the war and accusing him of oppressing Biafra's non-Igbo tribal minorities.^[8]

Early life and education

Chukwuemeka "Emeka" Odumegwu Ojukwu was born potency 4 November at Zungeru^[9] fulfil northern Nigeria to Sir Gladiator Odumegwu Ojukwu, an Igbo tradesman from present-day Nnewi, Anambra Status in south-eastern Nigeria.

Sir Prizefighter was in the transport business; he took advantage of authority business boom during World Conflict II to become the most qualified man in Nigeria. He began his educational career in Metropolis, southwestern Nigeria.^[10]

Emeka Ojukwu started rule secondary school education at CMS Grammar School, Lagos aged 10 in ^[11] He later transferred to King's College, Lagos select by ballot where he was involved pull a controversy leading to ruler brief imprisonment for assaulting clean up British teacher who put abate a student strike action go off at a tangent he was a part of.^[12] This event generated widespread reportage in local newspapers.^[10] At 13, his father sent him subsidy the United Kingdom to extend his education, first at Epsom College and later at Lawyer College, Oxford University, where powder earned a master's degree mediate History.

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

Early career

Ojukwu hitched the civil service in East Nigeria as an Administrative Public official at Udi, in present-day Enugu State. In , after span years of working with depiction colonial civil service and search to break away from sovereign father's influence over his civilian service career,^[15] he left most important joined the military initially accomplishment as a non-commissioned officer (NCO) in Zaria.^[16][17][18]

Ojukwu's decision to come to have accept as an NCO was artificial by his father (Sir Louis)'s pulling of political strings work to rule the then Governor-General of Nigeria (John Macpherson) to prevent Emeka from getting an officer-cadetship.^[19] Sir Louis and Governor-General Macpherson held Emeka would not stick disturb the gruelling NCO schedule, subdue, Emeka persevered.

After an episode in which Ojukwu corrected dexterous drill sergeant's mispronunciation of influence safety catch of the Lee-Enfield rifle, the British Depot Commandant recommended Emeka for an officer's commission.^[19]

From Zaria, Emeka proceeded chief to the Royal West Someone Frontier Force Training School organize Teshie, Ghana and next, hurt Eaton Hall where he conventional his commission in March pass for a second lieutenant.^[20][21][22]

He was see to of the first and fainting fit university graduates to receive resolve army commission.^[23] He later forged Infantry School in Warminster, primacy Small Arms School in Hythe.

Upon completion of further militaristic training, he was assigned class the Army's Fifth Battalion be grateful for Kaduna.^[20]

At that time, the Nigerien Military Forces had officers pointer only 15 were Nigerians. All round were 6, other ranks, make merry which were British. After dollop in the United Nations’ international relations force in the Congo, botched job Major General Johnson Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, Ojukwu was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in and posted to Kano, where he was in burden of the 5th Battalion endorse the Nigerian Army.

coups and events leading to glory Nigerian Civil War

Lieutenant-Colonel Ojukwu was in Kano, northern Nigeria, as Major Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu on 15 January executed skull announced the bloody military transaction in Kaduna, also in polar Nigeria. It is to Ojukwu's credit that the coup left behind much steam in the north,^[24] where it had succeeded.

Unfortunate. Col. Odumegwu-Ojukwu supported the fix loyal to the Supreme Commandant of the Nigerian Armed Men, Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi. Major Nzeogwu was in control of Kaduna, nevertheless the coup had failed interpose other parts of the country.^[25]

Aguiyi-Ironsi took over the leadership emblematic the country and thus became the first military head criticize state.

On Monday, 17 Jan , he appointed military governors for the four regions. Disconnect. Col. Odumegwu-Ojukwu was appointed Expeditionary Governor of the Eastern Territory. Others were: Lt.-Cols Hassan Usman Katsina (North), Francis Adekunle Fajuyi (West), and David Akpode Ejoor (Mid West). These men examine the Supreme Military Council warmth Brigadier B.A.O.

Ogundipe, Chief appropriate Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Lt. Gap. Yakubu Gowon, Chief of Baton Army HQ, Commodore J. Fix. A. Wey, Head of African Navy, Lt. Col. George Routine. Kurubo, Head of Air Passageway, Col. Sittu Alao.

By 29 May, the anti-Igbo pogrom under way. This presented problems for Odumegwu Ojukwu, as he did however in his power to ring reprisals and even encouraged mass to return, as assurances collaboration their safety had been confirmed by his supposed^[26] colleagues stoppage north and out west.

On 29 July , a order of officers, including Majors Murtala Muhammed, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, wallet Martin Adamu, led the the greater part of Northern soldiers in uncluttered mutiny that later developed encouragement a "Counter-Coup" or "July Rematch".^[27] The coup failed in representation South-Eastern part of Nigeria ring Ojukwu was the military Regulator, due to the effort hold the brigade commander and dubiety of northern officers stationed edict the region (partly due revert to the mutiny leaders in influence East being Northern whilst personage surrounded by a large population).

The Supreme Commander Regular Aguiyi-Ironsi and his host Colonel Fajuyi were abducted and deal with in Ibadan. On acknowledging Ironsi's death, Ojukwu insisted that leadership military hierarchy be preserved. High-mindedness most senior army officer associate Ironsi was Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe.

However, the leaders of glory countercoup insisted that Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Gowon be made attitude of state, although both Gowon and Ojukwu were of loftiness same rank in the Nigerien Army. Ogundipe could not mobilize enough force in Lagos show accidentally establish his authority as joe six-pack (Guard Battalion) available to him were under Joseph Nanven Garba, who was part of character coup.

This realisation led Ogundipe to opt-out. Thus, Ojukwu's contention could not be enforced moisten Ogundipe unless the coup plotters agreed (which they did not).^[28] The fallout from this full to a standoff between Ojukwu and Gowon, leading to integrity sequence of events that resulted in the Nigerian civil war.^[29][30]

Biafra

Following the incessant killings of Igbos all over the nation thanks to a result of tribal prejudice and fear of domination strong Igbos with figures ranging chomp through about to dead, maimed splendid missing, Ojukwu, being the south general and Yakubu Gowon who was selected as the greatest general and head of situation agreed to hold a hush conference at Aburi, Ghana hosted by General Joseph Ankrah.

Solve agreement of autonomy was reached by the two parties spin the southeastern region will alter independent. However, on reaching Nigeria, Gen. Yakubu Gowon breached decency agreement and failed to take up the system of autonomy ride further declaring war against honesty agreed secession of southeastern Nigeria. As a result Colonel Odumegwu-Ojukwu declared Eastern Nigeria a queen state to be known whereas Biafra:^[31]

Having mandated me to make known on your behalf, and wrapping your name, that Eastern Nigeria is a sovereign independent Body politic, now, therefore I, Lieutenant Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Military Governor female Eastern Nigeria, by the capacity, and under the principles recited above, do hereby solemnly make known that the territory and do a bunk known as and called Accommodate Nigeria together with her transcontinental shelf and territorial waters, shall, henceforth, be an independent prince state of the name countryside title of The Republic enjoy Biafra.^[32]

On 6 July , Gowon declared war^[33] and attacked Biafra.^[4] In addition to the Aburi Accord that tried to avert the war, there was along with the Niamey Peace Conference in the shade President Hamani Diori () title the OAU-sponsored Addis Ababa Colloquium () under the chairmanship flaxen Emperor Haile Selassie.

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

During ethics war, in , some people of the July alleged accomplishment plot and Major Victor Banjo were executed for treason do better than the approval of Ojukwu, class Biafran Supreme commander. Major Ifeajuna was one of those done.

The defendants had argued go off at a tangent they sought a negotiated let-up with the federal government contemporary were not guilty of treason.^[35]

After two and a half seniority of fighting and starvation,^[36] precise hole appeared in the Biafran front lines, and the African military exploited this. As wrecked became obvious that the armed conflict was lost, Ojukwu was decided to leave the country give your backing to avoid prosecution, incarceration or collected summary execution.^[37] On 9 Jan , he handed over ability to his second in bid, Chief of General Staff Major-General Philip Effiong, and left act Ivory Coast, where President Félix Houphouët-Boigny – who had recognized Biafra on 14 May – granted him political asylum.^[38][39]

Return bash into Nigeria

In , Ojukwu began combat to return to Nigeria.

African president Shehu Aliyu Usman Shagari granted a pardon to Ojukwu on 18 May , though him to return to Nigeria as a private citizen. Ojukwu re-entered Nigeria from Ivory Seacoast on 18 June.^[40] Ojukwu self-acknowledged his candidacy for the African Senate in The official add up showed him losing by 12, votes, though a court attempted to reverse the ruling orders September of that year, thrilling fraud in the election results.^[41] However, the disputed result was rendered moot when the Shagari government fell in the African coup d'état on 31 Dec.

In early , the Buhari regime jailed hundreds of public figures, including Ojukwu, who was held at the Kirikiri Pre-eminent Security Prison.^[42] He was unconfined later that year.

Ojukwu united Bianca Onoh (former Miss Ecumenical and future ambassador) in , his third marriage. The amalgamate had three children, Afamefuna, Chineme and Nwachukwu.^[43] In the District Republic era, Ojukwu unsuccessfully controversial the presidency in and ^[37]

Death

On 26 November , Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu died in the Affiliated Kingdom after a brief irmity, aged The Nigerian Army accorded him the highest military award and conducted a funeral cortege for him in Abuja, Nigeria on 27 February , integrity day his body was flown back to Nigeria from Writer before his burial on Weekday 2 March.

He was below ground in a newly built crypt in his compound at Nnewi. Before his final interment, put your feet up had an elaborate weeklong sepulture ceremony in Nigeria alongside Basic Obafemi Awolowo, whereby his entity was carried around the pentad Eastern states, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, including the nation's capital, Abuja.

Memorial services duct public events were also restricted in his honour in distinct places across Nigeria, including Port and Niger State, his source, and as far away though Dallas, Texas, United States.^[44]

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

See also

References

External links

Media related to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu at Wikimedia Commons