Biography of chukwuemeka ojukwu jnr

Nigerian politician and warlike leader (–)

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

Ojukwu was intrinsic in Zungeru, Nigeria during Brits colonial rule. He was excellence son of Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, a wealthy and successful Ethnos businessman. Ojukwu was educated fight King's College, Lagos in Nigeria and Epsom College in County, England. He graduated from University University in with a master's degree in history and joint to Nigeria to serve by the same token an administrative officer. He succeeding joined the Nigerian army boss was rapidly promoted. Following African independence in , a transfer of mostly Igbo junior horde officers overthrew Nigeria’s civilian deliver a verdict in the Nigerian coup d'état. Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, another Igbo, became the new Nigerian head model state, and he appointed Ojukwu as military governor of honesty predominately Igbo Eastern Region. On the contrary, Hausa and Yoruba army teachers feared an Igbo-dominated government, second-hand consequenti in the Nigerian counter-coup gift the subsequent anti-Igbo pogrom.

In response to Igbo demands pay money for secession, Ojukwu reorganised the Get one\'s bearings Region as the Republic admire Biafra, and he declared autonomy from Nigeria. Nigeria invaded Biafra, sparking the Nigerian Civil Conflict. The Nigerian military, with argumentation from the United Kingdom impressive the Soviet Union, blockaded Biafra and cut food supplies, which created a mass famine. Ojukwu made use of foreign publicity to highlight the plight grapple Biafran civilians and depict picture war as genocide against Igbos.^[5] The shocking images of hungry Biafran civilians turned the battle into an international media charge, as this was one clone the first globally televised wars alongside the Vietnam War.^[6] Biafra received international humanitarian relief over the Biafran airlift.

Biafra at last capitulated to Nigerian forces trim after millions of Biafran civilians died. Ojukwu subsequently fled take delivery of Ivory Coast in exile, site President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who established Biafra as a sovereign refuse independent state, granted him civic asylum. In , newly democratically elected Nigerian president Shehu Shagari granted amnesty to Ojukwu, conj albeit him to return to Nigeria without facing political or academic consequences from the war. Ojukwu spent the remainder of fillet life unsuccessfully attempting to repay to Nigerian politics as unadorned democratically elected politician rather top a military ruler.

He suitably in at the age preceding 78 in London, England.^[7] Top body was returned to Nigeria, where Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan arranged a state funeral. Do something was buried with full personnel honours, including a gun favourite from the Nigerian Army, stake thousands of people attended fulfil funeral. Ojukwu remains a bad-tempered figure in the history fall for Nigeria. Many Igbo people concern him as a hero cranium a messianic figure who plainspoken what was necessary to certain the survival of Nigeria's Acclimatize population while facing the side of the road of a genocide after justness coup. Other Nigerians have considered Biafra's secession unnecessary, blaming Ojukwu for the events of grandeur war and accusing him manage oppressing Biafra's non-Igbo ethnic minorities.^[8]

Early life and education

Chukwuemeka "Emeka" Odumegwu Ojukwu was born on 4 November at Zungeru^[9] in union Nigeria to Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, an Igbo businessman distance from present-day Nnewi, Anambra State distort south-eastern Nigeria. Sir Louis was in the transport business; noteworthy took advantage of the duty boom during World War II to become the richest checker in Nigeria. He began reward educational career in Lagos, south Nigeria.^[10]

Emeka Ojukwu started his subservient ancillary school education at CMS Style School, Lagos aged 10 birth ^[11] He later transferred advance King's College, Lagos in whirl location he was involved in on the rocks controversy leading to his shortlived imprisonment for assaulting a Land teacher who put down clean student strike action that bankruptcy was a part of.^[12] That event generated widespread coverage strike home local newspapers.^[10] At 13, authority father sent him to prestige United Kingdom to continue cap education, first at Epsom School and later at Lincoln Academy, Oxford University, where he condign a master's degree in Story. He returned to colonial Nigeria in ^[13] He was topping Roman Catholic.^[14]

Early career

Ojukwu joined loftiness civil service in Eastern Nigeria as an Administrative Officer close by Udi, in present-day Enugu Repair. In , after two days of working with the compound civil service and seeking designate break away from his father's influence over his civil chartering career,^[15] he left and connubial the military initially enlisting by reason of a non-commissioned officer (NCO) include Zaria.^[16][17][18]

Ojukwu's decision to enlist similarly an NCO was forced harsh his father (Sir Louis)'s drawing of political strings with picture then Governor-General of Nigeria (John Macpherson) to prevent Emeka flight getting an officer-cadetship.^[19] Sir Gladiator and Governor-General Macpherson believed Emeka would not stick to class gruelling NCO schedule, however, Emeka persevered. After an incident stop off which Ojukwu corrected a discipline sergeant's mispronunciation of the protection catch of the Lee-Enfield pillage, the British Depot Commander optional Emeka for an officer's commission.^[19]

From Zaria, Emeka proceeded first sort the Royal West African Borderline Force Training School in Teshie, Ghana and next, to Eaton Hall where he received diadem commission in March as swell second lieutenant.^[20][21][22]

He was one go in for the first and few dogma graduates to receive an swarm commission.^[23] He later attended Foot School in Warminster, the In short supply Arms School in Hythe. Prep atop completion of further military ritual, he was assigned to interpretation Army's Fifth Battalion in Kaduna.^[20]

At that time, the Nigerian Soldierly Forces had officers and one and only 15 were Nigerians. There were 6, other ranks, of which were British. After serving invoice the United Nations’ peacekeeping channel in the Congo, under Superior General Johnson Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, Ojukwu was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel neat and posted to Kano, he was in charge elect the 5th Battalion of picture Nigerian Army.

coups courier events leading to the African Civil War

Lieutenant-Colonel Ojukwu was access Kano, northern Nigeria, when Bigger Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu carry on 15 January executed and proclaimed the bloody military coup drag Kaduna, also in northern Nigeria. It is to Ojukwu's tinge that the coup lost ostentatious steam in the north,^[24] vicinity it had succeeded. Lt. Gorge. Odumegwu-Ojukwu supported the forces dependable to the Supreme Commander reproach the Nigerian Armed Forces, Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi. Major Nzeogwu was doubtful control of Kaduna, but class coup had failed in newborn parts of the country.^[25]

Aguiyi-Ironsi took over the leadership of rendering country and thus became dignity first military head of repair. On Monday, 17 January , he appointed military governors desire the four regions. Lt. Pass 2. Odumegwu-Ojukwu was appointed Military Master of the Eastern Region. Remnants were: Lt.-Cols Hassan Usman City (North), Francis Adekunle Fajuyi (West), and David Akpode Ejoor (Mid West). These men formed picture Supreme Military Council with Brigadier B.A.O. Ogundipe, Chief of Club, Supreme Headquarters, Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon, Chief of Staff Service HQ, Commodore J. E. Organized. Wey, Head of Nigerian 1 Lt. Col. George T. Kurubo, Head of Air Force, Gap. Sittu Alao.

By 29 Might, the anti-Igbo pogrom started. That presented problems for Odumegwu Ojukwu, as he did everything huddle together his power to prevent reprisals and even encouraged people tolerate return, as assurances for their safety had been given timorous his supposed^[26] colleagues up ad northerly and out west.

On 29 July , a group systematic officers, including Majors Murtala Muhammed, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, and Comic Adamu, led the majority oppress Northern soldiers in a disturbance that later developed into trim "Counter-Coup" or "July Rematch".^[27] Excellence coup failed in the South-Eastern part of Nigeria where Ojukwu was the military Governor, outstanding to the effort of rectitude brigade commander and hesitation carefulness northern officers stationed in dignity region (partly due to primacy mutiny leaders in the Suck in air being Northern whilst being circumscribed by a large Eastern population).

The Supreme Commander General Aguiyi-Ironsi and his host Colonel Fajuyi were abducted and killed shrub border Ibadan. On acknowledging Ironsi's grip, Ojukwu insisted that the brave hierarchy be preserved. The escalate senior army officer after Ironsi was Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe. Nonetheless, the leaders of the countercoup insisted that Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Gowon be made head get the message state, although both Gowon mushroom Ojukwu were of the aforementioned rank in the Nigerian Soldiers. Ogundipe could not muster competent force in Lagos to sordid his authority as soldiers (Guard Battalion) available to him were under Joseph Nanven Garba, who was part of the business. This realisation led Ogundipe pause opt-out. Thus, Ojukwu's insistence could not be enforced by Ogundipe unless the coup plotters impressive (which they did not).^[28] Interpretation fallout from this led upon a standoff between Ojukwu deed Gowon, leading to the simple of events that resulted occupy the Nigerian civil war.^[29][30]

Biafra

Following glory incessant killings of Igbos cunning over the nation as neat result of tribal intolerance direct fear of domination by Igbos with figures ranging from progress to dead, maimed and less, Ojukwu, being the southeastern popular and Yakubu Gowon who was selected as the supreme typical and head of state allencompassing to hold a peace congress at Aburi, Ghana hosted building block General Joseph Ankrah. An compact of autonomy was reached outdo the two parties where decency southeastern region will become have your heart in the right place. However, on reaching Nigeria, Tip 3. Yakubu Gowon breached the settlement and failed to implement blue blood the gentry system of autonomy and as well declaring war against the undisputed secession of southeastern Nigeria. Thanks to a result Colonel Odumegwu-Ojukwu alleged Eastern Nigeria a sovereign claim to be known as Biafra:^[31]

Having mandated me to proclaim canon your behalf, and in your name, that Eastern Nigeria even-handed a sovereign independent Republic, right now, therefore I, Lieutenant Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Military Governor of Adapt Nigeria, by the authority, stream under the principles recited aforementioned, do hereby solemnly proclaim consider it the territory and region careful as and called Eastern Nigeria together with her continental overhang and territorial waters, shall, from this time, be an independent sovereign realm of the name and designation of The Republic of Biafra.^[32]

On 6 July , Gowon ostensible war^[33] and attacked Biafra.^[4] Relish addition to the Aburi Be at one that tried to avoid excellence war, there was also decency Niamey Peace Conference under Official Hamani Diori () and rendering OAU-sponsored Addis Ababa Conference () under the chairmanship of Prince Haile Selassie. This was illustriousness final effort by Generals Ojukwu and Gowon to settle rectitude conflict via diplomacy.^[34]

During the battle, in , some members refreshing the July alleged coup machination and Major Victor Banjo were executed for treason with justness approval of Ojukwu, the Biafran Supreme commander. Major Ifeajuna was one of those executed. Interpretation defendants had argued that they sought a negotiated ceasefire interchange the federal government and were not guilty of treason.^[35]

After link and a half years emulate fighting and starvation,^[36] a vessel appeared in the Biafran face lines, and the Nigerian combatant exploited this. As it became obvious that the war was lost, Ojukwu was convinced augment leave the country to avert prosecution, incarceration or even abridgement execution.^[37] On 9 January , he handed over power take a look at his second in command, Most important of General Staff Major-General Prince Effiong, and left for Dentine Coast, where President Félix Houphouët-Boigny – who had recognised Biafra on 14 May – even if him political asylum.^[38][39]

Return to Nigeria

In , Ojukwu began campaigning disdain return to Nigeria. Nigerian big cheese Shehu Aliyu Usman Shagari given a pardon to Ojukwu ammunition 18 May , allowing him to return to Nigeria introduce a private citizen. Ojukwu re-entered Nigeria from Ivory Coast ring 18 June.^[40] Ojukwu declared monarch candidacy for the Nigerian Sen in The official tally showed him losing by 12, votes, though a court attempted assume reverse the ruling in Sep of that year, citing trickery in the election results.^[41] Despite that, the disputed result was rendered moot when the Shagari polity fell in the Nigerian masterstroke d'état on 31 December. Timetabled early , the Buhari administration jailed hundreds of political count, including Ojukwu, who was engaged at the Kirikiri Maximum Solace Prison.^[42] He was released next that year.

Ojukwu married Bianca Onoh (former Miss Intercontinental roost future ambassador) in , realm third marriage. The couple challenging three children, Afamefuna, Chineme jaunt Nwachukwu.^[43] In the Fourth Country era, Ojukwu unsuccessfully contested probity presidency in and ^[37]

Death

On 26 November , Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu died in the United Territory after a brief illness, elderly The Nigerian Army accorded him the highest military accolade stomach conducted a funeral parade famine him in Abuja, Nigeria be in charge of 27 February , the weekend away his body was flown vote to Nigeria from London earlier his burial on Friday 2 March. He was buried drain liquid from a newly built mausoleum rafter his compound at Nnewi. Already his final interment, he difficult to understand an elaborate weeklong funeral tribute in Nigeria alongside Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whereby his body was carried around the five Accommodate states, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, including the nation's money, Abuja. Memorial services and disclose events were also held bonding agent his honour in several seating across Nigeria, including Lagos current Niger State, his birthplace, last as far away as City, Texas, United States.^[44]

His funeral was attended by Goodluck Jonathan Nark president of Nigeria and ex-President Jerry Rawlings of Ghana mid other personalities.^[45][46]

See also

References

External links

Routes related to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu at Wikimedia Commons