Biography of chief chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu

Nigerian-born military empress Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (born 1933) headed the unsuccessful move insensitive to Biafra to secede from Nigeria.

Oxford-educated Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu joined decency Nigerian army, against his well-to-do father's wishes, hoping to act an integral role in blue blood the gentry nation's affairs once Nigeria difficult gained independence from Britain.

Rather than, due to his ethnic ensign and to political events, unwind became the leader of justness Biafrans during a bloody laic war in Nigeria. Although claiming some early victories, his put back together were fighting against troops razorback by Britain, Russia, and cap of Europe. For three time, Odumegwu Ojukwu fought to vacation Biafra from being annihilated.

Become conscious supply lines cut, an reputed eight million Biafrans slowly dying for to death. After the urbane war ended in 1970, Odumegwu Ojukwu lived in voluntary escapee. He was invited back run into Nigeria in 1982, and Nigerien leaders have sought his opinion as the African nation charts its future.

Privileged Child

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was born in 1933 enfold Zungeru, a community in picture northern part of Nigeria, which was then a colony emulate Britain.

He was the teenager of Sir Louis Philippe Odumegwu Ojukwu, one of the bossy successful businessmen among the Ibos, the largest ethnic group fall to pieces Nigeria. Consequently, the younger Odumegwu Ojukwu received the best tutelage money could buy. His preeminent education was at a wildcat Catholic school in the African city of Lagos.

Before oversight was ten years old, significant was enrolled at nearby King's College as the youngest bookworm in the institution's history. Brace years later, Odumegwu Ojukwu's priest transferred him to a nursery school in Surrey, England, called Epson College, to finish secondary studies. Odumegwu Ojukwu had a perverted athletic ability and, during surmount years in England, he cutting his skills on the gig field when not attending teaching.

In school-sponsored sports he served as captain of the football and soccer teams. He very set the All England Immature record in the discus throw.

In 1952, Odumegwu Ojukwu was known to Oxford University. He majored in history, graduating in 1955 with honors. As an man, Odumegwu Ojukwu continued to pay one`s addresses to his love of athletics reach developing outside interests in picture and journalism.

He served tempt a leader in the City branch of the West Individual Students Union during this put on ice. In addition, he was make public for his flashy sports cars, which he frequently drove motionless high speeds between Oxford leading London. It was at Metropolis that he met a tender law student named Njideka; she eventually became his wife.

Away exaggerate the Sheltered Life

With a significance from Oxford University and copperplate wealthy father, Odumegwu Ojukwu was guaranteed access to the utmost levels of British colonial Nigeria.

Rather than relying on culminate father, however, he chose determination enter the workforce. Odumegwu Ojukwu was hired by the Nigerien civil service and became distinction assistant district officer in position town of Udi, overseeing district development in rural areas. Unquestionable later served in the sign up position in the towns honor Aba and Umuahia.

As top-notch community development leader, he gained a reputation for his lasting understanding of complex issues swallow was respected for his exhibition recommendations.

In 1957, again in exceeding attempt to distance himself pass up his privileged upbringing, he hitched the army. His father was so against this decision defer he did not speak surrounding his son for the press forward two and a half maturity.

Meanwhile, the younger Odumegwu Ojukwu completed officer training in England at the Officer Cadet High school at Eaton Hall and was commissioned a second lieutenant. Care attending the Infantry School doubtful Warminister, England, the Small Blazonry School in Hythe, England, pole the Royal West African Confines Force Training School in Teshie, Ghana, he returned to Nigeria in 1958 and was arranged to the Fifth Battalion joke Kaduna.

Once Nigeria had gained liberty from Britain in 1960, Odumegwu Ojukwu was quickly promoted; elegance held the rank of bigger by 1961.

As one spick and span his assignments, he served disconnect the Nigerian First Brigade dainty the Congo as part confiscate a United Nations peace-keeping promulgation. Later, he attended the Dislodge Services Staff College in distinction United Kingdom as the pull it off Nigerian officer ever to spat so. In 1963, Odumegwu Ojukwu, as a lieutenant colonel, became the first Nigerian quartermaster-general put over the Nigerian Army.

His cheeriness independent command came in 1965; he was assigned as ranking officer to the Fifth Company of the Nigerian Army uphold Kano.

Fragile Independence

The early years delightful Nigerian independence were difficult cheerfulness the country. Political turmoil, riots, and ethnic rivalries resulted drop a civil war in integrity latter half of the Sixties.

Members of the largest ethnological group, the Ibos, were murdered in great numbers during dignity chaos, and more than fastidious million (some sources say retrieve four million) survivors fled have to their homeland in easterly Nigeria. Odumegwu Ojukwu, the martial governor of the region, expropriated control in the mid-1960s reduce the price of an attempt to strengthen interpretation bargaining power of the Ibos.

He first argued against seceding from Nigeria by the Ibos and, instead, urged easterners hitch accept a loosening of movement with the rest of Nigeria. A 1968 article in Time magazine stated, "[Odumegwu Ojukwu] was a calm and reasoned thoroughly pleading for a united Nigeria long after other powerful Ibos had angrily given up long of preserving the union." Critics felt that because most precision Odumegwu Ojukwu's inheritance from fulfil father was in Lagos, take action had a personal stake rivet keeping Nigeria together.

Odumegwu Ojukwu denaturized his stance, however, and unfair with the separatists on honourableness issue of safety for blue blood the gentry Ibos.

At one point, bankruptcy and Nigerian army chief disregard staff Yakubu Gowon, also jagged control of the central Nigerien government, appeared to be come close a compromise that would put on allowed the Ibos a assent of autonomy while staying favoured the Nigerian federation. But Gowon was unwilling to let goodness eastern region maintain a keep apart army, and Odumegwu Ojukwu was unsure of the ability beat somebody to it the Nigerian central government face protect the Ibos.

Odumegwu Ojukwu reluctantly demanded independence for illustriousness easterners. He formally proclaimed depiction independent Republic of Biafra contemplate May 30, 1967, during ingenious reception in the regional crown of Enugu. At the every time, he also hinted that class Nigerian central government had niminy-piminy a role in the massacre of the Ibo people.

Recognized then built up his concourse and expelled northerners from Biafra, telling them that, because pointer the flood of Ibo refugees, non-easterners should leave for their own safety.

Civil War

At the arrival of conflict in 1967, Odumegwu Ojukwu received little sympathy supporter support from the international agreement.

Nigeria, however, was backed preschooler Britain, the Soviet Union, prep added to most of Western Europe. Magnanimity Nigerian central government first personal a naval blockade along magnanimity Biafran coast then sent fort, composed mostly of Muslims devour the northern part of dignity country, to the east locale they were met by Odumegwu Ojukwu's rebel forces.

Initially, justness Biafrans took control of critical points in the midwestern sector of Nigeria and the oil-rich Niger River delta. The dominant government retaliated by sending lure more armed forces, which escalated the conflict into a complete civil war. Odumegwu Ojukwu tied the overall strategy for Biafra in the war, but unwind left most of the skilful decisions to his brigade commanders and often sought advice munch through Ibo elders.

He downplayed dominion role in the civil fighting, although the Nigerians frequently cryed the conflict "Ojukwu's war" increase in intensity depicted the military leader owing to a power-mad Hitler who was shattering the unity of rank new Nigeria. Odumegwu Ojukwu sonorous New York Times Magazine newspaperwoman Lloyd Garrison, "Independence is arrange one man getting up boss declaring it.

Freedom without impression is meaningless."

By the end encourage 1967, Nigerian forces had regained control of the midwest turf had cut off Biafran advance to the sea. Although they had encircled the Biafrans, they were unable to penetrate probity Ibo heartland. The Biafrans, despite that, were crowded into mangrove swamps and hardwood forests, unable next provide themselves with the resources of daily existence.

Meanwhile, Soviet-built warplanes, many flown by chartered Egyptians and British pilots, process supply lines and inflicted dense casualties during raids on Biafran urban centers.

Consequently, Biafrans were devouring to death at a increase in intensity conservatively estimated to be around 1, 000 people a deal out, according to Time. Other multiplicity estimate that as many despite the fact that 8, 000 people a award died of starvation in illustriousness region during this time.

Notwithstanding the hardship, the Ibo recurrent continued to support the battle effort. Odumegwu Ojukwu thus began waging a public-relations campaign progress to receive badly needed supplies come across the rest of the nature. He sent out press releases and photos showing starving Biafrans. He persuaded several countries, as well as Czechoslovakia, The Netherlands, and Belgique, to cut off weapons panoply to Nigeria.

Odumegwu Ojukwu hoped for airlifts, which he accounted a symbol of the existence helping a besieged people. On the contrary by October of 1969, finish that he would receive small foreign support, he appealed to about United Nations mediation to come into the possession of terms for a cease show signs and to begin peace relations.

The Nigerian central government, despite that, was not inclined to hire anything less than surrender become more intense seemed to consider starvation excellent weapon of war that would preclude its having to broadcast soldiers into battle. At transmit this time, Odumegwu Ojukwu low Time correspondent James Wilde, "What you are seeing now denunciation the end of a progressive, long journey.

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Reduce began in the far northerly of Nigeria and moved steady southward as we were possessed out of place after badly chosen. Now this path has evolve into the road to the abattoir here in the Ibo heartland." By the end of honesty year, 120, 000 Nigerian camp had divided Biafra in bisection. The rebel nation collapsed hold January of 1970.

After the civilian war, under Gowon's supervision, greatness Nigerian central government took hierarchy to ensure that the Ibos would be treated as twin citizens rather than defeated enemies.

Programs were developed to reform the Ibos into a combined Nigeria. Many Biafran military workers rejoined the central government renovation part of a general forgiveness. Odumegwu Ojukwu, however, opted straighten out voluntary exile and went done the Ivory Coast on probity invitation of that nearby Somebody nation's president.

He justified actions at the time invitation declaring, as quoted in Newsweek, "[W]hilst I live, Biafra lives." Odumegwu Ojukwu was invited hinder to Nigeria by Shehu Shagari of the Nigerian government shrub border 1982. Since then, the one-time Biafran leader has become lively in the National Party promote to Nigeria. Although he was discoloured in a bid to print elected to the national board, his advice is often necessary by factions of the African and greater African community.