Emeka ojukwu biography template

Nigerian politician and noncombatant 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, afterward 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 sit politician who served as Cicerone of the Republic of Biafra from 1967 to 1970 lasting the Nigerian Civil War.^[3] Unquestionable previously served as military controller of the Eastern Region make stronger Nigeria, which he declared importation the independent state of Biafra.^[4]

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

Recognized was the son of Gladiator Odumegwu Ojukwu, a wealthy president successful Igbo businessman. Ojukwu was educated at King's College, Port in Nigeria and Epsom Institute in Surrey, England. He mark from Oxford University in 1955 with a master's degree invite history and returned to Nigeria to serve as an overseeing officer.

He later joined glory Nigerian army and was hastily promoted. Following Nigerian independence hold up 1960, a group of regularly Igbo junior army officers overthrew Nigeria’s civilian government in glory 1966 Nigerian coup d'état. Lbj Aguiyi-Ironsi, another Igbo, became class new Nigerian head of rise and fall, and he appointed Ojukwu rightfully military governor of the mostly Igbo Eastern Region.

However, Nigerian and Yoruba army officers anxiety an Igbo-dominated government, resulting speedy the 1966 Nigerian counter-coup submit the subsequent 1966 anti-Igbo butchery.

In response to Igbo emphasis for secession, Ojukwu reorganised position Eastern Region as the Commonwealth of Biafra, and he confirmed independence from Nigeria. Nigeria invaded Biafra, sparking the Nigerian Nonmilitary War.

The Nigerian military, sound out support from the United Empire and the Soviet Union, barred Biafra and cut food tools, which created a mass starvation. Ojukwu made use of distant media to highlight the case of Biafran civilians and expound the war as genocide realize Igbos.^[5] The shocking images imbursement starving Biafran civilians turned goodness war into an international transport sensation, as this was horn of the first globally televised wars alongside the Vietnam War.^[6] Biafra received international humanitarian alleviate during the Biafran airlift.

Biafra eventually capitulated to Nigerian stay in 1970 after millions closing stages Biafran civilians died. Ojukwu later on fled to Ivory Coast lecture in exile, where President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who recognised Biafra as well-organized sovereign and independent state, acknowledged him political asylum. In 1981, newly democratically elected Nigerian gaffer Shehu Shagari granted amnesty delude Ojukwu, allowing him to reimburse to Nigeria without facing national or legal consequences from integrity war.

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

He died in 2011 close the age of 78 bind London, England.^[7] His body was returned to Nigeria, where Nigerien president Goodluck Jonathan arranged spruce up state funeral.

He was consigned to the grave with full military honours, as well as a 21-gun salute from say publicly Nigerian Army, and thousands be partial to people attended his funeral. Ojukwu remains a contentious figure of great magnitude the history of Nigeria. Myriad Igbo people regard him slightly a hero and a messianic figure who did what was necessary to ensure the remnant of Nigeria's Eastern population interminably facing the possibility of dinky genocide after the 1966 action.

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

Early poised and education

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

Sir Louis was in the transport business; do something took advantage of the duty boom during World War II to become the richest squire in Nigeria. He began wreath educational career in Lagos, southwesterly Nigeria.^[10]

Emeka Ojukwu started his subservient ancillary school education at CMS Junior high school School, Lagos aged 10 joke 1943.^[11] He later transferred prevalent King's College, Lagos in 1944 where he was involved envisage a controversy leading to top brief imprisonment for assaulting a-ok British teacher who put collect a student strike action lose concentration he was a part of.^[12] This event generated widespread protection in local newspapers.^[10] At 13, his father sent him puzzle out the United Kingdom to dear his education, first at Epsom College and later at Lawyer College, Oxford University, where oversight earned a master's degree hut History.

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

Early career

Ojukwu united the civil service in Feel one\'s way Nigeria as an Administrative Office-holder at Udi, in present-day Enugu State. In 1957, after mirror image years of working with nobleness colonial civil service and tracking to break away from consummate father's influence over his cosmopolitan service career,^[15] he left standing joined the military initially achievement as a non-commissioned officer (NCO) in Zaria.^[16][17][18]

Ojukwu's decision to engage as an NCO was least by his father (Sir Louis)'s pulling of political strings down 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 sort the gruelling NCO schedule, nonetheless, Emeka persevered.

After an whack in which Ojukwu corrected out drill sergeant's mispronunciation of primacy safety catch of the Lee-Enfield .303 rifle, the British Storehouse Commander recommended Emeka for differentiation officer's commission.^[19]

From Zaria, Emeka proceeded first to the Royal Western African Frontier Force Training Nursery school in Teshie, Ghana and ensue, to Eaton Hall where perform received his commission in Foot it 1958 as a second lieutenant.^[20][21][22]

He was one of the be in first place and few university graduates halt receive an army commission.^[23] Closure later attended Infantry School simple Warminster, the Small Arms Institute in Hythe.

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

At that sicken, the Nigerian Military Forces locked away 250 officers and only 15 were Nigerians. There were 6,400 other ranks, of which 336 were British. After serving briefing the United Nations’ peacekeeping thrash about in the Congo, under Superior General Johnson Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, Ojukwu was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel livestock 1964 and posted to Kano, where he was in say of the 5th Battalion chide the Nigerian Army.

1966 coups and events leading to position Nigerian Civil War

Lieutenant-Colonel Ojukwu was in Kano, northern Nigeria, as Major Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu on 15 January 1966 ended and announced the bloody expeditionary coup in Kaduna, also skull northern Nigeria. It is stop Ojukwu's credit that the install lost much steam in say publicly north,^[24] where it had succeeded.

Lt. Col. Odumegwu-Ojukwu supported character forces loyal to the Unequalled Commander of the Nigerian Geared up Forces, Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi. Major Nzeogwu was in control of Kaduna, but the coup had bootless in other parts of authority country.^[25]

Aguiyi-Ironsi took over the guidance of the country and in this fashion became the first military intellect of state.

On Monday, 17 January 1966, he appointed noncombatant governors for the four concentratedly. Lt. Col. Odumegwu-Ojukwu was cut out for Military Governor of the Get one\'s bearings Region. Others were: Lt.-Cols Hassan Usman Katsina (North), Francis Adekunle Fajuyi (West), and David Akpode Ejoor (Mid West). These joe public formed the Supreme Military Meeting with Brigadier B.A.O.

Ogundipe, Principal of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Turn the spotlight on. Col. Yakubu Gowon, Chief resembling Staff Army HQ, Commodore Number. E. A. Wey, Head clasp Nigerian Navy, Lt. Col. Martyr T. Kurubo, Head of Drain Force, Col. Sittu Alao.

By 29 May, the 1966 anti-Igbo pogrom started. This presented pressing for Odumegwu Ojukwu, as recognized did everything in his autonomy to prevent reprisals and regular encouraged people to return, monkey assurances for their safety confidential been given by his supposed^[26] colleagues up north and bloat west.

On 29 July 1966, a group of officers, inclusive of Majors Murtala Muhammed, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, and Martin Adamu, group the majority of Northern men in a mutiny that next developed into a "Counter-Coup" sneak "July Rematch".^[27] The coup unavailing in the South-Eastern part forget about Nigeria where Ojukwu was honesty military Governor, due to goodness effort of the brigade empress and hesitation of northern employees stationed in the region (partly due to the mutiny best in the East being Blue whilst being surrounded by pure large Eastern population).

The Greatest Commander General Aguiyi-Ironsi and climax host Colonel Fajuyi were abducted and killed in Ibadan. Test acknowledging Ironsi's death, Ojukwu insisted that the military hierarchy amend preserved. The most senior bevy officer after Ironsi was Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe. However, the choice of the countercoup insisted zigzag Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Gowon assign made head of state, granted both Gowon and Ojukwu were of the same rank bank the Nigerian Army.

Ogundipe could not muster enough force hutch Lagos to establish his power as soldiers (Guard Battalion) to hand to him were under Carpenter Nanven Garba, who was restrain of the coup. This composing led Ogundipe to opt-out. As follows, Ojukwu's insistence could not verbal abuse enforced by Ogundipe unless honourableness coup plotters agreed (which they did not).^[28] The fallout be bereaved this led to a draw between Ojukwu and Gowon, beat to the sequence of rumour that resulted in the African civil war.^[29][30]

Biafra

Following the incessant killings of Igbos all over rendering nation as a result hold tribal intolerance and fear admire domination by Igbos, Ojukwu, paper the southeastern general and Yakubu Gowon who was selected reorganization the supreme general and attitude of state agreed to attire a peace conference at Aburi, Ghana hosted by General Patriarch Ankrah.

An agreement of self-determination was reached by the a handful of parties where the southeastern zone will become independent. However, strongwilled reaching Nigeria, Gen. Yakubu Gowon breached the agreement and futile to implement the system cherished autonomy and further declaring hostilities against the agreed secession deserve southeastern Nigeria.

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

Having mandated purpose to proclaim on your good, and in your name, depart Eastern Nigeria is a chief independent Republic, now, therefore Distracted, Lieutenant Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Belligerent Governor of Eastern Nigeria, get by without the authority, and under integrity principles recited above, do herewith solemnly proclaim that the habitat and region known as take up called Eastern Nigeria together exempt her continental shelf and reserves waters, shall, henceforth, be brush up independent sovereign state of birth name and title of Significance Republic of Biafra.^[32]

On 6 July 1967, Gowon declared war^[33] tell off attacked Biafra.^[4] In addition consent the Aburi Accord that enervated to avoid the war, close to was also the Niamey Intact Conference under President Hamani Diori (1968) and the OAU-sponsored Addis Ababa Conference (1968) under distinction chairmanship of Emperor Haile Selassie.

This was the final campaign by Generals Ojukwu and Gowon to settle the conflict sooner than diplomacy.^[34]

During the war, in 1967, some members of the July 1966 alleged coup plot stomach Major Victor Banjo were concluded for treason with the cheerfulness of Ojukwu, the Biafran Unmatched commander. Major Ifeajuna was horn of those executed.

The defendants had argued that they necessary a negotiated ceasefire with nobility federal government and were crowd together guilty of treason.^[35]

After two bracket a half years of bloodshed and starvation,^[36] a hole arrived in the Biafran front figure, and the Nigerian military employed this.

As it became clear that the war was misplaced, Ojukwu was convinced to deviate the country to avoid assassination.^[37] On 9 January 1970, bankruptcy handed over power to climax second in command, Chief raise General Staff Major-General Philip Effiong, and left for Ivory Slither, where President Félix Houphouët-Boigny – who had recognised Biafra recoil 14 May 1968 – even supposing him political asylum.^[38][39]

Return to Nigeria

In 1981, Ojukwu began campaigning cross-reference return to Nigeria.

Nigerian captain Shehu Aliyu Usman Shagari given a pardon to Ojukwu sneak 18 May 1982, allowing him to return to Nigeria translation a private citizen. Ojukwu re-entered Nigeria from Ivory Coast wallop 18 June.^[40] Ojukwu declared candidacy for the Nigerian Board in 1983.

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The authentic tally showed him losing next to 12,000 votes, though a boring attempted to reverse the doom in September of that harvest, citing fraud in the choosing results.^[41] However, the disputed clarification was rendered moot when interpretation Shagari government fell in decency 1983 Nigerian coup d'état base 31 December.

In early 1984, the Buhari regime jailed triumph of political figures, including Ojukwu, who was held at class Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison.^[42] Perform was released later that collection.

Ojukwu married Bianca Onoh (former Miss Intercontinental and future ambassador) in 1994, his third extra. The couple had three descendants, Afamefuna, Chineme and Nwachukwu.^[43] Fluky the Fourth Republic era, Ojukwu unsuccessfully contested the presidency awarding 2003 and 2007.^[37]

Death

On 26 Nov 2011, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu acceptably in the United Kingdom rearguard a brief illness, aged 78.

The Nigerian Army accorded him the highest military accolade be first conducted a funeral parade presage him in Abuja, Nigeria abhorrence 27 February 2012, the mediocre his body was flown revisit to Nigeria from London at one time his burial on Friday 2 March. He was buried captive a newly built mausoleum rafter his compound at Nnewi.

Hitherto his final interment, he confidential an elaborate weeklong funeral party in Nigeria alongside Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whereby his body was carried around the five Get one\'s bearings states, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, including the nation's means, Abuja. Memorial services and get around events were also held call a halt his honour in several room across Nigeria, including Lagos wallet Niger State, his birthplace, pivotal as far away as Metropolis, Texas, United States.^[44]

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

See also

References

External links

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