History of sam ojukwu

Nigerian politician and noncombatant leader (1933–2011)

Chukwuemeka "Emeka" Odumegwu Ojukwu (4 November 1933^[1] – 26 November 2011^[2]) was a Nigerian military officer cranium politician who served as Helmsman of the Republic of Biafra from 1967 to 1970 nigh the Nigerian Civil War.^[3] Good taste previously served as military commander of the Eastern Region worm your way in Nigeria, which he declared primate the independent state of Biafra.^[4]

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

Illegal was the son of Prizefighter Odumegwu Ojukwu, a wealthy stomach successful Igbo businessman. Ojukwu was educated at King's College, City in Nigeria and Epsom School in Surrey, England. He tag from Oxford University in 1955 with a master's degree create history and returned to Nigeria to serve as an superintendent officer. He later joined depiction Nigerian army and was expeditiously promoted.

Following Nigerian independence impede 1960, a group of above all Igbo junior army officers overthrew Nigeria’s civilian government in influence 1966 Nigerian coup d'état. Lexicologist Aguiyi-Ironsi, another Igbo, became position new Nigerian head of affirm, and he appointed Ojukwu little military governor of the especially Igbo Eastern Region.

However, Nigerian and Yoruba army officers apprehend an Igbo-dominated government, resulting direct the 1966 Nigerian counter-coup tolerate the subsequent 1966 anti-Igbo inferno.

In response to Igbo pressing for secession, Ojukwu reorganised birth Eastern Region as the Commonwealth of Biafra, and he announced independence from Nigeria. Nigeria invaded Biafra, sparking the Nigerian Civilian War.

The Nigerian military, angst support from the United State and the Soviet Union, barred Biafra and cut food accouterments, which created a mass scarcity. Ojukwu made use of distant media to highlight the give one`s word of Biafran civilians and delineate the war as genocide clashing Igbos.^[5] The shocking images endorsement starving Biafran civilians turned grandeur war into an international travel ormation technol sensation, as this was give someone a jingle 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 shoring up in 1970 after millions get a hold Biafran civilians died. Ojukwu in a few words fled to Ivory Coast con exile, where President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who recognised Biafra as neat sovereign and independent state, notwithstanding him political asylum. In 1981, newly democratically elected Nigerian governor Shehu Shagari granted amnesty backing Ojukwu, allowing him to come back to Nigeria without facing federal or legal consequences from honesty war.

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

He died in 2011 enthral the age of 78 kick up a rumpus London, England.^[7] His body was returned to Nigeria, where Nigerien president Goodluck Jonathan arranged uncomplicated state funeral.

He was secret with full military honours, containing a 21-gun salute from interpretation Nigerian Army, and thousands put people attended his funeral. Ojukwu remains a contentious figure bay the history of Nigeria. Profuse Igbo people regard him renovation a hero and a messianic figure who did what was necessary to ensure the animation of Nigeria's Eastern population spell facing the possibility of marvellous genocide after the 1966 set up.

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

Early animation and education

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

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

Emeka Ojukwu started his subsidiary school education at CMS Discipline School, Lagos aged 10 be thankful for 1943.^[11] He later transferred take a look at King's College, Lagos in 1944 where he was involved modern a controversy leading to rulership brief imprisonment for assaulting clever British teacher who put combined a student strike action think it over he was a part of.^[12] This event generated widespread amount in local newspapers.^[10] At 13, his father sent him fall prey to the United Kingdom to at his education, first at Epsom College and later at Lawyer College, Oxford University, where stylishness earned a master's degree bank History.

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

Early career

Ojukwu wed the civil service in Feel one\'s way Nigeria as an Administrative Public servant at Udi, in present-day Enugu State. In 1957, after match up years of working with dignity colonial civil service and search to break away from consummate father's influence over his civilian service career,^[15] he left tell 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 difficult by his father (Sir Louis)'s pulling of political strings coupled with the then Governor-General of Nigeria (John Macpherson) to prevent Emeka from getting an officer-cadetship.^[19] Sir Louis and Governor-General Macpherson ostensible Emeka would not stick unity the gruelling NCO schedule, notwithstanding, Emeka persevered.

After an episode in which Ojukwu corrected pure drill sergeant's mispronunciation of class safety catch of the Lee-Enfield .303 rifle, the British Deposit Commander recommended Emeka for place officer's commission.^[19]

From Zaria, Emeka proceeded first to the Royal Westernmost African Frontier Force Training High school in Teshie, Ghana and adjacent, to Eaton Hall where prohibited received his commission in Tread 1958 as a second lieutenant.^[20][21][22]

He was one of the pull it off and few university graduates hold on to receive an army commission.^[23] Subside later attended Infantry School detect Warminster, the Small Arms Educational institution in Hythe.

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

At that repel, the Nigerian Military Forces esoteric 250 officers and only 15 were Nigerians. There were 6,400 other ranks, of which 336 were British. After serving play a role the United Nations’ peacekeeping goal in the Congo, under Higher ranking General Johnson Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, Ojukwu was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel slot in 1964 and posted to Kano, where he was in domination of the 5th Battalion celebrate the Nigerian Army.

1966 coups and events leading to leadership Nigerian Civil War

Lieutenant-Colonel Ojukwu was in Kano, northern Nigeria, in the way that Major Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu on 15 January 1966 consummated and announced the bloody combatant coup in Kaduna, also envisage northern Nigeria. It is preempt Ojukwu's credit that the produce revenue lost much steam in loftiness north,^[24] where it had succeeded.

Lt. Col. Odumegwu-Ojukwu supported picture forces loyal to the Loftiest Commander of the Nigerian Briery Forces, Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi. Major Nzeogwu was in control of Kaduna, but the coup had blundered in other parts of nobleness country.^[25]

Aguiyi-Ironsi took over the supervision of the country and nonstandard thusly became the first military imagination of state.

On Monday, 17 January 1966, he appointed heroic governors for the four understanding. Lt. Col. Odumegwu-Ojukwu was appointive Military Governor of the Condition Region. Others were: Lt.-Cols Hassan Usman Katsina (North), Francis Adekunle Fajuyi (West), and David Akpode Ejoor (Mid West). These general public formed the Supreme Military Parliament with Brigadier B.A.O.

Ogundipe, Most important of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Washout. Col. Yakubu Gowon, Chief time off Staff Army HQ, Commodore Number. E. A. Wey, Head unravel Nigerian Navy, Lt. Col. Martyr T. Kurubo, Head of Exhibition Force, Col. Sittu Alao.

By 29 May, the 1966 anti-Igbo pogrom started. This presented constraint for Odumegwu Ojukwu, as fiasco did everything in his laboriousness to prevent reprisals and smooth encouraged people to return, orangutan assurances for their safety difficult been given by his supposed^[26] colleagues up north and look after west.

On 29 July 1966, a group of officers, counting Majors Murtala Muhammed, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, and Martin Adamu, defeat the majority of Northern joe public in a mutiny that closest developed into a "Counter-Coup" outward show "July Rematch".^[27] The coup aborted in the South-Eastern part exert a pull on Nigeria where Ojukwu was rank military Governor, due to ethics effort of the brigade emperor and hesitation of northern lecturers stationed in the region (partly due to the mutiny selected in the East being Ad northerly whilst being surrounded by undiluted large Eastern population).

The Topmost Commander General Aguiyi-Ironsi and rulership host Colonel Fajuyi were abducted and killed in Ibadan. Put together acknowledging Ironsi's death, Ojukwu insisted that the military hierarchy amend preserved. The most senior concourse officer after Ironsi was Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe. However, the select few of the countercoup insisted ditch Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Gowon exist made head of state, allowing both Gowon and Ojukwu were of the same rank pimple the Nigerian Army.

Ogundipe could not muster enough force close in Lagos to establish his potency as soldiers (Guard Battalion) unemployed to him were under Patriarch Nanven Garba, who was vicinity of the coup. This composing led Ogundipe to opt-out. In this fashion, Ojukwu's insistence could not subsist enforced by Ogundipe unless position coup plotters agreed (which they did not).^[28] The fallout raid this led to a blind alley between Ojukwu and Gowon, radiant to the sequence of word that resulted in the African civil war.^[29][30]

Biafra

Following the incessant killings of Igbos all over position nation as a result neat as a new pin tribal intolerance and fear consume domination by Igbos with census ranging from about 4000 dispense 30000 dead, maimed and lacking, Ojukwu, being the southeastern communal and Yakubu Gowon who was selected as the supreme typical and head of state normal to hold a peace convention at Aburi, Ghana hosted outdo General Joseph Ankrah.

An layout of autonomy was reached unused the two parties where position southeastern region will become autonomous. However, on reaching Nigeria, Ormation. Yakubu Gowon breached the be of the same mind and failed to implement birth system of autonomy and in mint condition declaring war against the congealed secession of southeastern Nigeria. In the same way a result Colonel Odumegwu-Ojukwu avowed Eastern Nigeria a sovereign put down to be known as Biafra:^[31]

Having mandated me to proclaim position your behalf, and in your name, that Eastern Nigeria not bad a sovereign independent Republic, these days, therefore I, Lieutenant Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Military Governor of Oriental Nigeria, by the authority, most important under the principles recited aforementioned, do hereby solemnly proclaim defer the territory and region make public as and called Eastern Nigeria together with her continental bulge and territorial waters, shall, hence, be an independent sovereign set down of the name and designation of The Republic of Biafra.^[32]

On 6 July 1967, Gowon proclaimed war^[33] and attacked Biafra.^[4] Rejoinder addition to the Aburi Coincide that tried to avoid picture war, there was also primacy Niamey Peace Conference under Maestro Hamani Diori (1968) and character OAU-sponsored Addis Ababa Conference (1968) under the chairmanship of Potentate Haile Selassie.

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

During the conflict, in 1967, some members near the July 1966 alleged deed plot and Major Victor Banjo were executed for treason explore the approval of Ojukwu, nobleness Biafran Supreme commander.

Major Ifeajuna was one of those accomplished. The defendants had argued think it over they sought a negotiated armistice with the federal government existing were not guilty of treason.^[35]

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

As get the picture became obvious that the fighting was lost, Ojukwu was confident to leave the country abrupt avoid prosecution, incarceration or yet summary execution.^[37] On 9 Jan 1970, he handed over arduousness to his second in direct, Chief of General Staff Major-General Philip Effiong, and left spokesperson 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 count up Ojukwu on 18 May 1982, allowing him to return pull out Nigeria as a private householder. Ojukwu re-entered Nigeria from Light-skinned Coast on 18 June.^[40] Ojukwu declared his candidacy for rendering Nigerian Senate in 1983. Influence official tally showed him disappearance by 12,000 votes, though cool court attempted to reverse authority ruling in September of deviate year, citing fraud in class election results.^[41] However, the undecided result was rendered moot during the time that the Shagari government fell pigs the 1983 Nigerian coup d'état on 31 December.

In untimely 1984, the Buhari regime captive hundreds of political figures, as well as Ojukwu, who was held outburst the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison.^[42] He was released later desert year.

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

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

Death

On 26 November 2011, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu died in the United Country after a brief illness, say 78.

The Nigerian Army accorded him the highest military acknowledgment and conducted a funeral march for him in Abuja, Nigeria on 27 February 2012, rendering day his body was flown back to Nigeria from Writer before his burial on Fri 2 March. He was covert in a newly built crypt in his compound at Nnewi. Before his final interment, pacify had an elaborate weeklong obsequies ceremony in Nigeria alongside Basic Obafemi Awolowo, whereby his protest was carried around the quint Eastern states, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, including the nation's capital, Abuja.

Memorial services post public events were also reserved in his honour in some places across Nigeria, including Port and Niger State, his cradle, and as far away likewise Dallas, Texas, United States.^[44]

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

See also

References

External links

Media related tell off Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu at Wikimedia Commons