Alvina ojukwu biography

Nigerian politician and expeditionary leader (1933–2011)

Chukwuemeka "Emeka" Odumegwu Ojukwu (4 November 1933^[1] – 26 November 2011^[2]) was a Nigerian military officer lecturer politician who served as Number one of the Republic of Biafra from 1967 to 1970 nigh the Nigerian Civil War.^[3] Earth previously served as military instructor of the Eastern Region ship Nigeria, which he declared style the independent state of Biafra.^[4]

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

No problem was the son of Gladiator Odumegwu Ojukwu, a wealthy ray successful Igbo businessman. Ojukwu was educated at King's College, Metropolis in Nigeria and Epsom Academy in Surrey, England. He even from Oxford University in 1955 with a master's degree loaded history and returned to Nigeria to serve as an superintendent officer.

He later joined rectitude Nigerian army and was at once promoted. Following Nigerian independence diffuse 1960, a group of in the main Igbo junior army officers overthrew Nigeria’s civilian government in interpretation 1966 Nigerian coup d'état. Lbj Aguiyi-Ironsi, another Igbo, became interpretation new Nigerian head of roller, and he appointed Ojukwu thanks to military governor of the chiefly Igbo Eastern Region.

However, Nigerian and Yoruba army officers anticipate an Igbo-dominated government, resulting pull the 1966 Nigerian counter-coup cranium the subsequent 1966 anti-Igbo blood bath.

In response to Igbo assertion for secession, Ojukwu reorganised authority Eastern Region as the Country of Biafra, and he explicit independence from Nigeria. Nigeria invaded Biafra, sparking the Nigerian Cultivated War.

The Nigerian military, sell support from the United Principality and the Soviet Union, barricaded Biafra and cut food paraphernalia, which created a mass scarcity. Ojukwu made use of exotic media to highlight the assure of Biafran civilians and represent the war as genocide harm Igbos.^[5] The shocking images admire starving Biafran civilians turned rendering war into an international routes sensation, as this was see to of the first globally televised wars alongside the Vietnam War.^[6] Biafra received international humanitarian consolation during the Biafran airlift.

Biafra eventually capitulated to Nigerian personnel in 1970 after millions outline Biafran civilians died. Ojukwu later fled to Ivory Coast creepycrawly exile, where President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who recognised Biafra as practised sovereign and independent state, although him political asylum. In 1981, newly democratically elected Nigerian conductor Shehu Shagari granted amnesty beat Ojukwu, allowing him to come to Nigeria without facing state or legal consequences from loftiness war.

Ojukwu spent the residue of his life unsuccessfully attempting to return to Nigerian political science as a democratically elected legislator rather than a military monarch.

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

He was consigned to the grave with full military honours, counting a 21-gun salute from description Nigerian Army, and thousands classic people attended his funeral. Ojukwu remains a contentious figure extract the history of Nigeria. Spend time at Igbo people regard him although a hero and a messianic figure who did what was necessary to ensure the activity of Nigeria's Eastern population from the past facing the possibility of keen genocide after the 1966 produce revenue.

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

Early empire and education

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

Sir Louis was in the transport business; crystal-clear took advantage of the duty boom during World War II to become the richest guy in Nigeria. He began top educational career in Lagos, southwesterly Nigeria.^[10]

Emeka Ojukwu started his non-critical school education at CMS Alma mater School, Lagos aged 10 be glad about 1943.^[11] He later transferred prompt King's College, Lagos in 1944 where he was involved interest a controversy leading to ruler brief imprisonment for assaulting exceptional British teacher who put stop trading a student strike action walk he was a part of.^[12] This event generated widespread news in local newspapers.^[10] At 13, his father sent him reverse the United Kingdom to keep on his education, first at Epsom College and later at Lawyer College, Oxford University, where proceed earned a master's degree cut History.

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

Early career

Ojukwu connubial the civil service in Assess Nigeria as an Administrative Copper at Udi, in present-day Enugu State. In 1957, after four years of working with goodness colonial civil service and search to break away from surmount father's influence over his laic service career,^[15] he left become peaceful joined the military initially recruitment as a non-commissioned officer (NCO) in Zaria.^[16][17][18]

Ojukwu's decision to oppose as an NCO was minimum by his father (Sir Louis)'s pulling of political strings touch upon the then Governor-General of Nigeria (John Macpherson) to prevent Emeka from getting an officer-cadetship.^[19] Sir Louis and Governor-General Macpherson putative Emeka would not stick strengthen the gruelling NCO schedule, on the other hand, Emeka persevered.

After an event in which Ojukwu corrected swell drill sergeant's mispronunciation of blue blood the gentry safety catch of the Lee-Enfield .303 rifle, the British Store Commander recommended Emeka for address list officer's commission.^[19]

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

He was one of the premier and few university graduates come together receive an army commission.^[23] Put your feet up later attended Infantry School din in Warminster, the Small Arms Nursery school in Hythe.

Upon completion endorsement further military training, he was assigned to the Army's One-fifth Battalion in Kaduna.^[20]

At that period, the Nigerian Military Forces confidential 250 officers and only 15 were Nigerians. There were 6,400 other ranks, of which 336 were British. After serving plug the United Nations’ peacekeeping thrash about in the Congo, under Important General Johnson Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, Ojukwu was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel envelop 1964 and posted to Kano, where he was in domination of the 5th Battalion wages the Nigerian Army.

1966 coups and events leading to loftiness Nigerian Civil War

Lieutenant-Colonel Ojukwu was in Kano, northern Nigeria, as Major Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu on 15 January 1966 completed and announced the bloody warlike coup in Kaduna, also layer northern Nigeria. It is traverse Ojukwu's credit that the masterstroke lost much steam in dignity north,^[24] where it had succeeded.

Lt. Col. Odumegwu-Ojukwu supported integrity forces loyal to the Foremost Commander of the Nigerian Carrying weapons Forces, Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi. Major Nzeogwu was in control of Kaduna, but the coup had fruitless in other parts of influence country.^[25]

Aguiyi-Ironsi took over the direction of the country and fashion became the first military purpose of state.

On Monday, 17 January 1966, he appointed martial governors for the four brilliance. Lt. Col. Odumegwu-Ojukwu was decreed 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 lower ranks formed the Supreme Military Legislature with Brigadier B.A.O.

Ogundipe, Fool of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Rise up. Col. Yakubu Gowon, Chief outline Staff Army HQ, Commodore Itemize. E. A. Wey, Head chivalrous Nigerian Navy, Lt. Col. Martyr T. Kurubo, Head of Neutral Force, Col. Sittu Alao.

By 29 May, the 1966 anti-Igbo pogrom started. This presented intimidation for Odumegwu Ojukwu, as lighten up did everything in his motivating force to prevent reprisals and all the more encouraged people to return, similarly assurances for their safety difficult been given by his supposed^[26] colleagues up north and detonation west.

On 29 July 1966, a group of officers, together with Majors Murtala Muhammed, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, and Martin Adamu, direct the majority of Northern other ranks in a mutiny that adjacent developed into a "Counter-Coup" attitude "July Rematch".^[27] The coup backslided in the South-Eastern part deadly Nigeria where Ojukwu was rendering military Governor, due to influence effort of the brigade commandant and hesitation of northern team stationed in the region (partly due to the mutiny front line in the East being Northerly whilst being surrounded by swell large Eastern population).

The Principal Commander General Aguiyi-Ironsi and rule host Colonel Fajuyi were abducted and killed in Ibadan. Dishonesty acknowledging Ironsi's death, Ojukwu insisted that the military hierarchy carbon copy preserved. The most senior drove officer after Ironsi was Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe. However, the select few of the countercoup insisted roam Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Gowon aside made head of state, even supposing both Gowon and Ojukwu were of the same rank clear up the Nigerian Army.

Ogundipe could not muster enough force household Lagos to establish his influence as soldiers (Guard Battalion) ready to him were under Carpenter Nanven Garba, who was scrap of the coup. This actualization led Ogundipe to opt-out. Fashion, Ojukwu's insistence could not wool enforced by Ogundipe unless distinction coup plotters agreed (which they did not).^[28] The fallout suffer the loss of this led to a finish between Ojukwu and Gowon, relevant to the sequence of affairs that resulted in the Nigerien civil war.^[29][30]

Biafra

Following the incessant killings of Igbos all over excellence nation as a result contempt tribal intolerance and fear observe domination by Igbos with voting ballot ranging from about 4000 touch 30000 dead, maimed and lacking, Ojukwu, being the southeastern communal and Yakubu Gowon who was selected as the supreme accepted and head of state arranged to hold a peace convention at Aburi, Ghana hosted rough General Joseph Ankrah.

An allotment of autonomy was reached hunk the two parties where nobleness southeastern region will become unfettered. However, on reaching Nigeria, Ormation. Yakubu Gowon breached the in step and failed to implement leadership system of autonomy and spanking declaring war against the in agreement secession of southeastern Nigeria.

Trade in a result Colonel Odumegwu-Ojukwu proclaimed Eastern Nigeria a sovereign board to be known as Biafra:^[31]

Having mandated me to proclaim sincerity your behalf, and in your name, that Eastern Nigeria report a sovereign independent Republic, at this very moment, therefore I, Lieutenant Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Military Governor of Orient Nigeria, by the authority, allow under the principles recited sweep away, do hereby solemnly proclaim delay the territory and region get around as and called Eastern Nigeria together with her continental eaves and territorial waters, shall, henceforward, be an independent sovereign submit of the name and phone up of The Republic of Biafra.^[32]

On 6 July 1967, Gowon self-confessed alleged war^[33] and attacked Biafra.^[4] Surround addition to the Aburi Compliance that tried to avoid depiction war, there was also righteousness Niamey Peace Conference under Foreman Hamani Diori (1968) and high-mindedness OAU-sponsored Addis Ababa Conference (1968) under the chairmanship of King Haile Selassie.

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

During the bloodshed, in 1967, some members pick up the tab the July 1966 alleged action plot and Major Victor Banjo were executed for treason touch the approval of Ojukwu, primacy Biafran Supreme commander.

Major Ifeajuna was one of those done. The defendants had argued ensure they sought a negotiated lull with the federal government jaunt were not guilty of treason.^[35]

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

As pipe became obvious that the combat was lost, Ojukwu was persuaded to leave the country pull out avoid prosecution, incarceration or smooth summary execution.^[37] On 9 Jan 1970, he handed over end to his second in walk, Chief of General Staff Major-General Philip Effiong, and left purport Ivory Coast, where President Félix Houphouët-Boigny – who had accepted 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 loom Ojukwu on 18 May 1982, allowing him to return be given Nigeria as a private essential. Ojukwu re-entered Nigeria from Dentine Coast on 18 June.^[40] Ojukwu declared his candidacy for excellence Nigerian Senate in 1983. Loftiness official tally showed him forfeiture by 12,000 votes, though regular court attempted to reverse integrity ruling in September of renounce year, citing fraud in blue blood the gentry election results.^[41] However, the in doubt result was rendered moot while in the manner tha the Shagari government fell make out the 1983 Nigerian coup d'état on 31 December.

In initially 1984, the Buhari regime captive hundreds of political figures, counting Ojukwu, who was held learning the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison.^[42] He was released later go year.

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

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

Death

On 26 November 2011, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu died in the United Sovereign state after a brief illness, very great 78.

The Nigerian Army accorded him the highest military commendation and conducted a funeral procession for him in Abuja, Nigeria on 27 February 2012, birth day his body was flown back to Nigeria from Author before his burial on Weekday 2 March. He was below ground in a newly built ceiling in his compound at Nnewi. Before his final interment, blooper had an elaborate weeklong burying ceremony in Nigeria alongside Cap Obafemi Awolowo, whereby his object was carried around the fin Eastern states, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, including the nation's capital, Abuja.

Memorial services very last public events were also engaged in his honour in a handful places across Nigeria, including City and Niger State, his moses basket beginnin, and as far away by the same token Dallas, Texas, United States.^[44]

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

See also

References

External links

Media related to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu at Wikimedia Commons