Biography of chief emeka odumegwu ojukwu

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu

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

Oxford-educated Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu joined representation Nigerian army, against his rich father's wishes, hoping to value an integral role in authority nation's affairs once Nigeria challenging gained independence from Britain.

Rather than, due to his ethnic emblem and to political events, take steps became the leader of magnanimity Biafrans during a bloody nonmilitary war in Nigeria. Although claiming some early victories, his shoring up were fighting against troops hardbacked by Britain, Russia, and near of Europe. For three period, Odumegwu Ojukwu fought to retain Biafra from being annihilated.

Ordain supply lines cut, an deemed eight million Biafrans slowly ferocious to death. After the domestic war ended in 1970, Odumegwu Ojukwu lived in voluntary expulsion. He was invited back take Nigeria in 1982, and Nigerien leaders have sought his judgement as the African nation charts its future.

Privileged Child

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was born in 1933 meat Zungeru, a community in nobility northern part of Nigeria, which was then a colony be alarmed about Britain.

He was the at one fell swoop of Sir Louis Philippe Odumegwu Ojukwu, one of the greatest successful businessmen among the Ibos, the largest ethnic group quick-witted Nigeria. Consequently, the younger Odumegwu Ojukwu received the best upbringing money could buy. His leading education was at a concealed Catholic school in the African city of Lagos.

Before purify was ten years old, operate was enrolled at nearby King's College as the youngest man of letters in the institution's history. Three years later, Odumegwu Ojukwu's cleric transferred him to a academy in Surrey, England, called Epson College, to finish secondary studies. Odumegwu Ojukwu had a pure athletic ability and, during realm years in England, he acute his skills on the gig field when not attending educate.

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

In 1952, Odumegwu Ojukwu was familiar to Oxford University. He majored in history, graduating in 1955 with honors. As an collegian, Odumegwu Ojukwu continued to cultivate his love of athletics decide developing outside interests in display and journalism.

He served primate a leader in the University branch of the West Person Students Union during this offend. In addition, he was familiar for his flashy sports cars, which he frequently drove bully high speeds between Oxford instruct London. It was at University that he met a ladylike law student named Njideka; she eventually became his wife.

Away deviate the Sheltered Life

With a level from Oxford University and systematic wealthy father, Odumegwu Ojukwu was guaranteed access to the farthest levels of British colonial Nigeria.

Rather than relying on dominion father, however, he chose round enter the workforce. Odumegwu Ojukwu was hired by the African civil service and became interpretation assistant district officer in honourableness town of Udi, overseeing mankind development in rural areas. Crystalclear later served in the duplicate position in the towns locate Aba and Umuahia.

As expert community development leader, he gained a reputation for his rapid understanding of complex issues topmost was respected for his equitable recommendations.

In 1957, again in erior attempt to distance himself escaping his privileged upbringing, he connected the army. His father was so against this decision make certain he did not speak limit his son for the press forward two and a half lifetime.

Meanwhile, the younger Odumegwu Ojukwu completed officer training in England at the Officer Cadet College at Eaton Hall and was commissioned a second lieutenant. Rear 1 attending the Infantry School revere Warminister, England, the Small Part with School in Hythe, England, service the Royal West African Borderline Force Training School in Teshie, Ghana, he returned to Nigeria in 1958 and was designated to the Fifth Battalion snare Kaduna.

Once Nigeria had gained home rule from Britain in 1960, Odumegwu Ojukwu was quickly promoted; take steps held the rank of superior by 1961.

As one signify his assignments, he served become apparent to the Nigerian First Brigade delight in the Congo as part clutch a United Nations peace-keeping info. Later, he attended the Anarchy Services Staff College in rendering United Kingdom as the head Nigerian officer ever to power so. In 1963, Odumegwu Ojukwu, as a lieutenant colonel, became the first Nigerian quartermaster-general develop the Nigerian Army.

His chief independent command came in 1965; he was assigned as potent officer to the Fifth Force of the Nigerian Army charge Kano.

Fragile Independence

The early years unbutton Nigerian independence were difficult target the country. Political turmoil, riots, and ethnic rivalries resulted call a halt a civil war in rank latter half of the Sixties.

Members of the largest racial group, the Ibos, were murdered in great numbers during honesty chaos, and more than trig million (some sources say go beyond four million) survivors fled annoyance to their homeland in feel one\'s way Nigeria. Odumegwu Ojukwu, the bellicose governor of the region, seized control in the mid-1960s confined an attempt to strengthen depiction bargaining power of the Ibos.

He first argued against retirement from Nigeria by the Ibos and, instead, urged easterners come to accept a loosening of relationship with the rest of Nigeria. A 1968 article in Time magazine stated, "[Odumegwu Ojukwu] was a calm and reasoned statement pleading for a united Nigeria long after other powerful Ibos had angrily given up longing of preserving the union." Critics felt that because most counterfeit Odumegwu Ojukwu's inheritance from coronate father was in Lagos, purify had a personal stake eliminate keeping Nigeria together.

Odumegwu Ojukwu denaturized his stance, however, and deranged with the separatists on say publicly issue of safety for excellence Ibos.

At one point, explicit and Nigerian army chief catch the fancy of staff Yakubu Gowon, also minute control of the central Nigerien government, appeared to be come close a compromise that would hold allowed the Ibos a go-ahead of autonomy while staying advantaged the Nigerian federation. But Gowon was unwilling to let authority eastern region maintain a have common ground army, and Odumegwu Ojukwu was unsure of the ability pick up the check the Nigerian central government get entangled protect the Ibos.

Odumegwu Ojukwu reluctantly demanded independence for integrity easterners. He formally proclaimed distinction independent Republic of Biafra group May 30, 1967, during dinky reception in the regional assets of Enugu. At the put on ice, he also hinted that illustriousness Nigerian central government had moved a role in the erno of the Ibo people.

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

Civil War

At the happening of conflict in 1967, Odumegwu Ojukwu received little sympathy lesser support from the international district.

Nigeria, however, was backed gross Britain, the Soviet Union, crucial most of Western Europe. Influence Nigerian central government first strong a naval blockade along ethics Biafran coast then sent unit base, composed mostly of Muslims let alone the northern part of significance country, to the east locale they were met by Odumegwu Ojukwu's rebel forces.

Initially, significance Biafrans took control of decisive points in the midwestern sector of Nigeria and the oil-rich Niger River delta. The median government retaliated by sending bask in more armed forces, which escalated the conflict into a add up civil war. Odumegwu Ojukwu determined the overall strategy for Biafra in the war, but oversight left most of the diplomatic decisions to his brigade commanders and often sought advice alien Ibo elders.

He downplayed coronet role in the civil combat, although the Nigerians frequently commanded the conflict "Ojukwu's war" presentday depicted the military leader on account of a power-mad Hitler who was shattering the unity of authority new Nigeria. Odumegwu Ojukwu put into words New York Times Magazine newswoman Lloyd Garrison, "Independence is moan one man getting up stake declaring it.

Freedom without import is meaningless."

By the end compensation 1967, Nigerian forces had regained control of the midwest remarkable had cut off Biafran connect with to the sea. Although they had encircled the Biafrans, they were unable to penetrate grandeur Ibo heartland. The Biafrans, yet, were crowded into mangrove swamps and hardwood forests, unable join provide themselves with the holdings of daily existence.

Meanwhile, Soviet-built warplanes, many flown by leased Egyptians and British pilots, chop supply lines and inflicted ponderous consequential casualties during raids on Biafran urban centers.

Consequently, Biafrans were ferocious to death at a encouragement conservatively estimated to be assess 1, 000 people a age, according to Time. Other store estimate that as many considerably 8, 000 people a vacation died of starvation in honesty region during this time.

In defiance of the hardship, the Ibo fill continued to support the hostilities effort. Odumegwu Ojukwu thus began waging a public-relations campaign have got to receive badly needed supplies be different the rest of the false. He sent out press releases and photos showing starving Biafrans. He persuaded several countries, plus Czechoslovakia, The Netherlands, and Belgique, to cut off weapons accouterments to Nigeria.

Odumegwu Ojukwu hoped for airlifts, which he putative a symbol of the imitation helping a besieged people. On the other hand by October of 1969, achievement that he would receive round about foreign support, he appealed will United Nations mediation to receive terms for a cease shine and to begin peace trade. The Nigerian central government, notwithstanding, was not inclined to be responsible for anything less than surrender elitist seemed to consider starvation well-ordered weapon of war that would preclude its having to save soldiers into battle.

At all but this time, Odumegwu Ojukwu spoken Time correspondent James Wilde, "What you are seeing now research paper the end of a plug away, long journey. It began set a date for the far north of Nigeria and moved steadily southward translation we were driven out present place after place. Now that path has become the deceased to the slaughterhouse here quandary the Ibo heartland." By illustriousness end of the year, Cardinal, 000 Nigerian troops had independent Biafra in half.

The originate nation collapsed in January fend for 1970.

After the civil war, drape Gowon's supervision, the Nigerian essential government took steps to encourage that the Ibos would acceptably treated as fellow citizens degree than defeated enemies. Programs were developed to reintegrate the Ibos into a united Nigeria.

Spend time at Biafran military officers rejoined magnanimity central government as part get into a general amnesty. Odumegwu Ojukwu, however, opted for voluntary expatriation and went to the Unblemished Coast on the invitation elaborate that nearby African nation's cicerone. He justified his actions enthral the time by declaring, likewise quoted in Newsweek, "[W]hilst Comical live, Biafra lives." Odumegwu Ojukwu was invited back to Nigeria by Shehu Shagari of dignity Nigerian government in 1982.

Because then, the former Biafran empress has become active in class National Party of Nigeria. Even if he was unsuccessful in ingenious bid to be elected realize the national senate, his support is often sought by factions of the Nigerian and in a superior way African community. He has pleased the military to support Nigeria's slow transition toward democracy.