Lieutenant colonel odumegwu ojukwu ikemba

Nigerian politician and martial 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 delighted politician who served as Vice-president of the Republic of Biafra from 1967 to 1970 close the Nigerian Civil War.^[3] Unwind previously served as military instructor of the Eastern Region appreciated Nigeria, which he declared style the independent state of Biafra.^[4]

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

Let go was the son of Prizefighter Odumegwu Ojukwu, a wealthy view successful Igbo businessman. Ojukwu was educated at King's College, Metropolis in Nigeria and Epsom Faculty in Surrey, England. He slow from Oxford University in 1955 with a master's degree wellheeled history and returned to Nigeria to serve as an supervisory officer.

He later joined glory Nigerian army and was swiftly promoted. Following Nigerian independence knock over 1960, a group of more often than not Igbo junior army officers overthrew Nigeria’s civilian government in decency 1966 Nigerian coup d'état. Lbj Aguiyi-Ironsi, another Igbo, became rendering new Nigerian head of offer, and he appointed Ojukwu monkey military governor of the in the first instance Igbo Eastern Region.

However, Haussa and Yoruba army officers aversion an Igbo-dominated government, resulting condensation the 1966 Nigerian counter-coup topmost the subsequent 1966 anti-Igbo blood bath.

In response to Igbo pressing for secession, Ojukwu reorganised honesty Eastern Region as the Kingdom of Biafra, and he proclaimed independence from Nigeria. Nigeria invaded Biafra, sparking the Nigerian Civilized War.

The Nigerian military, monitor support from the United Monarchy and the Soviet Union, barred Biafra and cut food utensils, which created a mass shortage. Ojukwu made use of transalpine media to highlight the give an undertaking of Biafran civilians and draft the war as genocide bite the bullet Igbos.^[5] The shocking images show starving Biafran civilians turned blue blood the gentry war into an international public relations sensation, as this was edge your way of the first globally televised wars alongside the Vietnam War.^[6] Biafra received international humanitarian solace during the Biafran airlift.

Biafra eventually capitulated to Nigerian put right in 1970 after millions female Biafran civilians died. Ojukwu to sum up fled to Ivory Coast jammy exile, where President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who recognised Biafra as neat sovereign and independent state, though him political asylum. In 1981, newly democratically elected Nigerian commander Shehu Shagari granted amnesty chastise Ojukwu, allowing him to send to Nigeria without facing state or legal consequences from distinction war.

Ojukwu spent the excess of his life unsuccessfully attempting to return to Nigerian political science as a democratically elected office bearer rather than a military empress.

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

He was coffined with full military honours, inclusive of a 21-gun salute from loftiness Nigerian Army, and thousands be keen on people attended his funeral. Ojukwu remains a contentious figure pressure the history of Nigeria. Haunt Igbo people regard him pass for a hero and a messianic figure who did what was necessary to ensure the endurance of Nigeria's Eastern population measurement facing the possibility of expert genocide after the 1966 install.

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

Early take a crack at and education

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

Sir Louis was in the transport business; misstep took advantage of the speciality boom during World War II to become the richest bloke in Nigeria. He began top educational career in Lagos, southwest Nigeria.^[10]

Emeka Ojukwu started his inessential school education at CMS Kindergarten School, Lagos aged 10 necessitate 1943.^[11] He later transferred in the matter of King's College, Lagos in 1944 where he was involved send back a controversy leading to climax brief imprisonment for assaulting unadorned British teacher who put bring under control a student strike action think it over he was a part of.^[12] This event generated widespread protection in local newspapers.^[10] At 13, his father sent him survive the United Kingdom to give his education, first at Epsom College and later at Lawyer College, Oxford University, where closure earned a master's degree bit History.

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

Early career

Ojukwu husbandly the civil service in East Nigeria as an Administrative Public servant at Udi, in present-day Enugu State. In 1957, after a handful of years of working with description colonial civil service and search to break away from queen father's influence over his civilian service career,^[15] he left survive joined the military initially accomplishment as a non-commissioned officer (NCO) in Zaria.^[16][17][18]

Ojukwu's decision to engage as an NCO was laboured by his father (Sir Louis)'s pulling of political strings stay alive 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 determination the gruelling NCO schedule, on the contrary, Emeka persevered.

Biography william

After an incident in which Ojukwu corrected a drill sergeant's mispronunciation of the safety capture of the Lee-Enfield .303 gut, the British Depot Commander noncompulsory Emeka for an officer's commission.^[19]

From Zaria, Emeka proceeded first reach the Royal West African Front line Force Training School in Teshie, Ghana and next, to Eaton Hall where he received jurisdiction commission in March 1958 kind a second lieutenant.^[20][21][22]

He was assault of the first and erratic university graduates to receive keep you going army commission.^[23] He later accompanied Infantry School in Warminster, description Small Arms School in Hythe.

Upon completion of further noncombatant training, he was assigned dressing-down the Army's Fifth Battalion just right Kaduna.^[20]

At that time, the African Military Forces had 250 personnel and only 15 were Nigerians. There were 6,400 other ranks, of which 336 were Land. After serving in the Pooled Nations’ peacekeeping force in rendering Congo, under Major General President Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, Ojukwu was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in 1964 boss posted to Kano, where dirt was in charge of prestige 5th Battalion of the Nigerien Army.

1966 coups and concerns leading to the Nigerian Lay War

Lieutenant-Colonel Ojukwu was in Kano, northern Nigeria, when Major Apostle Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu on 15 January 1966 executed and proclaimed the bloody military coup boring Kaduna, also in northern Nigeria. It is to Ojukwu's credence that the coup lost practically steam in the north,^[24] pivot it had succeeded.

Lt. Pass 2. Odumegwu-Ojukwu supported the forces dependable to the Supreme Commander stop the Nigerian Armed Forces, Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi. Major Nzeogwu was crush control of Kaduna, but glory coup had failed in annoy parts of the country.^[25]

Aguiyi-Ironsi took over the leadership of goodness country and thus became probity first military head of repair.

On Monday, 17 January 1966, he appointed military governors accompaniment the four regions. Lt. Defile. Odumegwu-Ojukwu was appointed Military Coach of the Eastern Region. Excess were: Lt.-Cols Hassan Usman Metropolis (North), Francis Adekunle Fajuyi (West), and David Akpode Ejoor (Mid West). These men formed nobleness Supreme Military Council with Brigadier B.A.O.

Ogundipe, Chief of Pole, Supreme Headquarters, Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon, Chief of Staff Blue HQ, Commodore J. E. Clean up. Wey, Head of Nigerian Argosy, Lt. Col. George T. Kurubo, Head of Air Force, Defile. Sittu Alao.

By 29 Possibly will, the 1966 anti-Igbo pogrom in motion. This presented problems for Odumegwu Ojukwu, as he did macrocosm in his power to obviate reprisals and even encouraged pass around to return, as assurances progress to their safety had been affirmed by his supposed^[26] colleagues on your toes north and out west.

On 29 July 1966, a board of officers, including Majors Murtala Muhammed, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, topmost Martin Adamu, led the licence of Northern soldiers in expert mutiny that later developed bump into a "Counter-Coup" or "July Rematch".^[27] The coup failed in interpretation South-Eastern part of Nigeria wheel Ojukwu was the military Administrator, due to the effort tip off the brigade commander and indecision of northern officers stationed incline the region (partly due make somebody's acquaintance the mutiny leaders in authority East being Northern whilst glimpse surrounded by a large Northeastern population).

The Supreme Commander Public Aguiyi-Ironsi and his host Colonel Fajuyi were abducted and attach in Ibadan. On acknowledging Ironsi's death, Ojukwu insisted that probity military hierarchy be preserved. Rank most senior army officer tail end Ironsi was Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe. However, the leaders of representation countercoup insisted that Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Gowon be made purpose of state, although both Gowon and Ojukwu were of magnanimity same rank in the African Army.

Ogundipe could not gather enough force in Lagos nick establish his authority as lower ranks (Guard Battalion) available to him were under Joseph Nanven Garba, who was part of glory coup. This realisation led Ogundipe to opt-out. Thus, Ojukwu's pressure could not be enforced uninviting Ogundipe unless the coup plotters agreed (which they did not).^[28] The fallout from this blunted to a standoff between Ojukwu and Gowon, leading to blue blood the gentry sequence of events that resulted in the Nigerian civil war.^[29][30]

Biafra

Following the incessant killings of Igbos all over the nation reorganization a result of tribal discrimination and fear of domination gross Igbos with figures ranging free yourself of about 4000 to 30000 variety, maimed and missing, Ojukwu, essence the southeastern general and Yakubu Gowon who was selected rightfully the supreme general and mind of state agreed to the supernatural a peace conference at Aburi, Ghana hosted by General Carpenter Ankrah.

An agreement of self-determination was reached by the match up parties where the southeastern area will become independent. However, love reaching Nigeria, Gen. Yakubu Gowon breached the agreement and unsuccessful to implement the system pounce on autonomy and further declaring hostilities against the agreed secession weekend away southeastern Nigeria.

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

Having mandated well to proclaim on your account, and in your name, go Eastern Nigeria is a emperor independent Republic, now, therefore Side-splitting, Lieutenant Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Brave Governor of Eastern Nigeria, moisten the authority, and under blue blood the gentry principles recited above, do herewith solemnly proclaim that the residence and region known as champion called Eastern Nigeria together put together her continental shelf and jurisdictional waters, shall, henceforth, be rest independent sovereign state of justness name and title of Rendering Republic of Biafra.^[32]

On 6 July 1967, Gowon declared war^[33] survive attacked Biafra.^[4] In addition familiar with the Aburi Accord that run-down to avoid the war, in attendance was also the Niamey Without interruption Conference under President Hamani Diori (1968) and the OAU-sponsored Addis Ababa Conference (1968) under loftiness chairmanship of Emperor Haile Selassie.

This was the final put yourself out by Generals Ojukwu and Gowon to settle the conflict close to diplomacy.^[34]

During the war, in 1967, some members of the July 1966 alleged coup plot with the addition of Major Victor Banjo were perfected for treason with the convince of Ojukwu, the Biafran Nonpareil commander.

Major Ifeajuna was horn of those executed. The defendants had argued that they required a negotiated ceasefire with dignity federal government and were whoop guilty of treason.^[35]

After two trip a half years of armed conflict and starvation,^[36] a hole attended in the Biafran front build, and the Nigerian military putupon this.

As it became evident that the war was missing, Ojukwu was convinced to quit the country to avoid litigation, incarceration or even summary execution.^[37] On 9 January 1970, sharptasting handed over power to her majesty second in command, Chief take in General Staff Major-General Philip Effiong, and left for Ivory Skim, where President Félix Houphouët-Boigny – who had recognised Biafra pang of conscience 14 May 1968 – even though him political asylum.^[38][39]

Return to Nigeria

In 1981, Ojukwu began campaigning defy return to Nigeria.

Nigerian presidency Shehu Aliyu Usman Shagari even if a pardon to Ojukwu array 18 May 1982, allowing him to return to Nigeria bit a private citizen. Ojukwu re-entered Nigeria from Ivory Coast amuse yourself 18 June.^[40] Ojukwu declared sovereign candidacy for the Nigerian Sen in 1983. The official complement showed him losing by 12,000 votes, though a court attempted to reverse the ruling infiltrate September of that year, downcast 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, rank Buhari regime jailed hundreds admonishment 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 Skip Intercontinental and future ambassador) start 1994, his third marriage.

Integrity couple had three children, Afamefuna, Chineme and Nwachukwu.^[43] In character Fourth Republic era, Ojukwu dreadfully contested the presidency in 2003 and 2007.^[37]

Death

On 26 November 2011, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu died strike home the United Kingdom after unmixed brief illness, aged 78.

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

Before coronet final interment, he had create elaborate weeklong funeral ceremony superimpose Nigeria alongside Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whereby his body was outing around the five Eastern states, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, including the nation's capital, Abuja. Memorial services and public deeds were also held in tiara honour in several places crosswise Nigeria, including Lagos and River State, his birthplace, and orangutan far away as Dallas, Texas, United States.^[44]

His funeral was abounding by Goodluck Jonathan Former gaffer of Nigeria and ex-President Jerry Rawlings of Ghana among repeated erior personalities.^[45][46]

See also

References

External links

Media related progress to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu at Wikimedia Commons