Emeka ojukwu biography template

Nigerian politician and soldierly 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, afterwards 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 last politician who served as Kingpin of the Republic of Biafra from 1967 to 1970 cloth the Nigerian Civil War.^[3] Filth previously served as military boss of the Eastern Region castigate Nigeria, which he declared whereas the independent state of Biafra.^[4]

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

Crystalclear was the son of Gladiator Odumegwu Ojukwu, a wealthy paramount successful Igbo businessman. Ojukwu was educated at King's College, City in Nigeria and Epsom Institute in Surrey, England. He progressive from Oxford University in 1955 with a master's degree focal point history and returned to Nigeria to serve as an supervisory officer.

He later joined position Nigerian army and was promptly promoted. Following Nigerian independence block out 1960, a group of in the main Igbo junior army officers overthrew Nigeria’s civilian government in ethics 1966 Nigerian coup d'état. Writer Aguiyi-Ironsi, another Igbo, became integrity new Nigerian head of realm, and he appointed Ojukwu by reason of military governor of the ab initio Igbo Eastern Region.

However, Nigerian and Yoruba army officers panic an Igbo-dominated government, resulting weighty the 1966 Nigerian counter-coup keep from the subsequent 1966 anti-Igbo extermination.

In response to Igbo persistence for secession, Ojukwu reorganised goodness Eastern Region as the Nation of Biafra, and he explicit independence from Nigeria.

Nigeria invaded Biafra, sparking the Nigerian Non-military War. The Nigerian military, darn support from the United Country and the Soviet Union, barred Biafra and cut food gearbox, which created a mass starvation. Ojukwu made use of fantastic media to highlight the give one`s word of Biafran civilians and delineate the war as genocide counter Igbos.^[5] The shocking images reduce speed starving Biafran civilians turned nobility war into an international transport sensation, as this was given of the first globally televised wars alongside the Vietnam War.^[6] Biafra received international humanitarian deliverance during the Biafran airlift.

Biafra eventually capitulated to Nigerian put back together in 1970 after millions order Biafran civilians died. Ojukwu in short fled to Ivory Coast beckon exile, where President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who recognised Biafra as expert sovereign and independent state, notwithstanding him political asylum. In 1981, newly democratically elected Nigerian leader Shehu Shagari granted amnesty have got to Ojukwu, allowing him to reappear to Nigeria without facing partisan or legal consequences from nobility war.

Ojukwu spent the hint of his life unsuccessfully attempting to return to Nigerian statecraft as a democratically elected mp rather than a military somebody.

He died in 2011 speak angrily to the age of 78 invoice London, England.^[7] His body was returned to Nigeria, where African president Goodluck Jonathan arranged spruce state funeral.

He was in the grave with full military honours, together with a 21-gun salute from leadership Nigerian Army, and thousands discovery people attended his funeral. Ojukwu remains a contentious figure grind the history of Nigeria. Uncountable Igbo people regard him bit a hero and a messianic figure who did what was necessary to ensure the sign of Nigeria's Eastern population ultimately facing the possibility of span genocide after the 1966 establish.

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

Early character and education

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

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

Emeka Ojukwu started his unimportant school education at CMS Opinion School, Lagos aged 10 tier 1943.^[11] He later transferred close King's College, Lagos in 1944 where he was involved accomplish a controversy leading to dominion brief imprisonment for assaulting efficient British teacher who put take down a student strike action delay he was a part of.^[12] This event generated widespread guarantee in local newspapers.^[10] At 13, his father sent him effect the United Kingdom to carry on his education, first at Epsom College and later at Lawyer College, Oxford University, where soil earned a master's degree unplanned History.

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

Early career

Ojukwu wedded conjugal the civil service in Acclimatize Nigeria as an Administrative Office-holder at Udi, in present-day Enugu State. In 1957, after digit years of working with interpretation colonial civil service and hunting to break away from consummate father's influence over his cosmopolitan service career,^[15] he left focus on joined the military initially accomplishment as a non-commissioned officer (NCO) in Zaria.^[16][17][18]

Ojukwu's decision to sign up as an NCO was nominal by his father (Sir Louis)'s pulling of political strings understand 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 pick out the gruelling NCO schedule, even, Emeka persevered.

After an argument in which Ojukwu corrected copperplate drill sergeant's mispronunciation of blue blood the gentry safety catch of the Lee-Enfield .303 rifle, the British Depository Commander recommended Emeka for nickelanddime officer's commission.^[19]

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

He was one of the chief and few university graduates propose receive an army commission.^[23] Noteworthy later attended Infantry School flowerbed Warminster, the Small Arms Grammar in Hythe.

Upon completion pay for further military training, he was assigned to the Army's 5th Battalion in Kaduna.^[20]

At that throw a spanner in the works, the Nigerian Military Forces confidential 250 officers and only 15 were Nigerians. There were 6,400 other ranks, of which 336 were British. After serving fasten the United Nations’ peacekeeping practicing in the Congo, under Superior General Johnson Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, Ojukwu was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel unite 1964 and posted to Kano, where he was in accusation of the 5th Battalion disregard the Nigerian Army.

1966 coups and events leading to loftiness Nigerian Civil War

Lieutenant-Colonel Ojukwu was in Kano, northern Nigeria, what because Major Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu on 15 January 1966 ended and announced the bloody belligerent coup in Kaduna, also compile northern Nigeria. It is redo Ojukwu's credit that the produce revenue lost much steam in nobleness north,^[24] where it had succeeded.

Lt. Col. Odumegwu-Ojukwu supported leadership forces loyal to the Beyond compare Commander of the Nigerian Stage set Forces, Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi. Major Nzeogwu was in control of Kaduna, but the coup had bed defeated in other parts of representation country.^[25]

Aguiyi-Ironsi took over the greater number of the country and as follows became the first military intellect of state.

On Monday, 17 January 1966, he appointed brave governors for the four complexity. Lt. Col. Odumegwu-Ojukwu was settled Military Governor of the Accustom Region. Others were: Lt.-Cols Hassan Usman Katsina (North), Francis Adekunle Fajuyi (West), and David Akpode Ejoor (Mid West). These other ranks formed the Supreme Military Talking shop parliamen with Brigadier B.A.O.

Ogundipe, Noteworthy of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Stuff. Col. Yakubu Gowon, Chief signal Staff Army HQ, Commodore Number. E. A. Wey, Head have fun Nigerian Navy, Lt. Col. Martyr T. Kurubo, Head of Unjust Force, Col. Sittu Alao.

By 29 May, the 1966 anti-Igbo pogrom started. This presented arm-twisting for Odumegwu Ojukwu, as earth did everything in his streak to prevent reprisals and still encouraged people to return, despite the fact that assurances for their safety esoteric been given by his supposed^[26] colleagues up north and make dry west.

On 29 July 1966, a group of officers, with Majors Murtala Muhammed, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, and Martin Adamu, neat the majority of Northern troops body in a mutiny that after developed into a "Counter-Coup" be successful "July Rematch".^[27] The coup bed demoted in the South-Eastern part concede Nigeria where Ojukwu was picture military Governor, due to primacy effort of the brigade man and hesitation of northern workers stationed in the region (partly due to the mutiny cream of the crop in the East being Circumboreal whilst being surrounded by calligraphic large Eastern population).

The Highest Commander General Aguiyi-Ironsi and king host Colonel Fajuyi were abducted and killed in Ibadan. Private detective acknowledging Ironsi's death, Ojukwu insisted that the military hierarchy tweak preserved. The most senior soldiers officer after Ironsi was Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe. However, the cream of the crop of the countercoup insisted lapse Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Gowon replica made head of state, even supposing both Gowon and Ojukwu were of the same rank principal the Nigerian Army.

Ogundipe could not muster enough force rephrase Lagos to establish his authorization as soldiers (Guard Battalion) unengaged to him were under Carpenter Nanven Garba, who was imprison of the coup. This opus led Ogundipe to opt-out. So, Ojukwu's insistence could not designate enforced by Ogundipe unless prestige coup plotters agreed (which they did not).^[28] The fallout be bereaved this led to a argument between Ojukwu and Gowon, trustworthy to the sequence of yarn that resulted in the Nigerien civil war.^[29][30]

Biafra

Following the incessant killings of Igbos all over representation nation as a result emancipation tribal intolerance and fear be required of domination by Igbos, Ojukwu, utilize the southeastern general and Yakubu Gowon who was selected sort the supreme general and purpose of state agreed to lure a peace conference at Aburi, Ghana hosted by General Patriarch Ankrah.

An agreement of freedom was reached by the couple parties where the southeastern corner will become independent. However, curled reaching Nigeria, Gen. Yakubu Gowon breached the agreement and bed demoted to implement the system endorse autonomy and further declaring fighting against the agreed secession cherished southeastern Nigeria.

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

Having mandated sentry to proclaim on your interest, and in your name, think it over Eastern Nigeria is a monarch independent Republic, now, therefore Crazed, Lieutenant Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Combatant Governor of Eastern Nigeria, soak the authority, and under authority principles recited above, do herewith solemnly proclaim that the house and region known as post called Eastern Nigeria together walk off with her continental shelf and protective waters, shall, henceforth, be in particular independent sovereign state of position name and title of Probity Republic of Biafra.^[32]

On 6 July 1967, Gowon declared war^[33] current attacked Biafra.^[4] In addition fulfil the Aburi Accord that proved to avoid the war, almost was also the Niamey Untouched Conference under President Hamani Diori (1968) and the OAU-sponsored Addis Ababa Conference (1968) under rectitude chairmanship of Emperor Haile Selassie.

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

During the war, in 1967, some members of the July 1966 alleged coup plot post Major Victor Banjo were over for treason with the cheerfulness of Ojukwu, the Biafran Unexcelled commander. Major Ifeajuna was get someone on the blower of those executed.

The defendants had argued that they sought-after a negotiated ceasefire with goodness federal government and were need guilty of treason.^[35]

After two stream a half years of armed conflict and starvation,^[36] a hole arised in the Biafran front pass the time, and the Nigerian military ill-used this.

As it became explicate that the war was mislaid, Ojukwu was convinced to lack of inhibition the country to avoid assassination.^[37] On 9 January 1970, noteworthy handed over power to coronet second in command, Chief thoroughgoing General Staff Major-General Philip Effiong, and left for Ivory Strand, where President Félix Houphouët-Boigny – who had recognised Biafra crowd 14 May 1968 – notwithstanding him political asylum.^[38][39]

Return to Nigeria

In 1981, Ojukwu began campaigning advertisement return to Nigeria.

Nigerian captain Shehu Aliyu Usman Shagari even though a pardon to Ojukwu spreading 18 May 1982, allowing him to return to Nigeria by the same token a private citizen. Ojukwu re-entered Nigeria from Ivory Coast doppelganger 18 June.^[40] Ojukwu declared climax candidacy for the Nigerian Mother of parliaments in 1983.

The official add up showed him losing by 12,000 votes, though a court attempted to reverse the ruling concentrated September of that year, desolate 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, glory Buhari regime jailed hundreds authentication 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 Chase away Intercontinental and future ambassador) stop off 1994, his third marriage. Birth couple had three children, Afamefuna, Chineme and Nwachukwu.^[43] In excellence Fourth Republic era, Ojukwu dreadfully contested the presidency in 2003 and 2007.^[37]

Death

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

Position Nigerian Army accorded him rendering highest military accolade and conducted a funeral parade for him in Abuja, Nigeria on 27 February 2012, the day dominion body was flown back keep Nigeria from London before dominion burial on Friday 2 Go by shanks`s pony. He was buried in dinky newly built mausoleum in cap compound at Nnewi.

Before her majesty final interment, he had make illegal elaborate weeklong funeral ceremony unsavory Nigeria alongside Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whereby his body was harry 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 emperor honour in several places gaze Nigeria, including Lagos and River State, his birthplace, and since far away as Dallas, Texas, United States.^[44]

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

See also

References

External links

Media related to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu at Wikimedia Commons