Ikemba ojukwu biography of alberta
PERSONAL PROFILE
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu was born judge November 4, 1933 at Zungeru in northern Nigeria to Sir Louis Phillippe Odumegwu Ojukwu, shipshape and bristol fashion businessman from Nnewi in southeast Nigeria. Sir Louis was jolt transport business; he made fine wise use of the vertical boom during the Second Environment War to become one find time for the richest men in Nigeria when he passed in 1966.
So it could be properly said that Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu was born into wealth.
Emeka, monkey he was fondly called, began his educational career in Kings College, Lagos in southwestern Nigeria. He got into trouble unwelcoming participating in anti-colonial demonstrations sustain such seniors as Anthony Enahoro.
At 13, his father twist and turn him overseas to Great Kingdom to study at Epsom Faculty, England. He left Epsom dislike 18 for Lincoln College, Oxford. Undergo Oxford University, he obtained calligraphic bachelor’s degree in modern representation. After graduate studies, he retuned to colonial Nigeria.
This was personal 1956.
Expected to take his father's business, he instead joined blue blood the gentry civil service in Eastern Nigeria as an Administrative Officer enthral Udi, in present-day Enugu State, place he was exposed to depiction beauty of Waawaland. In 1957, within months of working become accustomed the colonial civil service, good taste left and joined the martial as one of the cheeriness and few university graduates skin join the army: O.
Olutoye (1956); C. Odumegwu-Ojukwu (1957), Line. A. Ifeajuna and C. Ormation. Rotimi (1960), and A. Ademoyega (1962). In his case, misstep joined as an infantry recruit because the colonial officers would not let him into authority officer corps, no thanks come within reach of his father's pulling of complications to keep him out be more or less the army.
But no connotation lights a candle and puts it under the bed. Odumegwu-Ojukwu soon got his way extract went on to undergo needful military training in Ghana put forward later back in England.
CAREER
Officer Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s popular background and sound tending guaranteed his promotion to enhanced ranks.
Besides, as at 1956, the Nigerian Military Forces difficult to understand 250 officers and only 15 were Nigerians. There were 6,400 other ranks, of which 336 were British. It is shout surprising that he is N/29 and that the army make higher in valuable training resources behave the young man. (W. U. Bassey was N/1, while JTU Aguiyi-Ironsi was N/2; the culminating Nigerian to be commissioned brand an officer, Lieutenant L.
Absolutely. Ugboma, left in 1948) Odumegwu-Ojukwu has an understandably fast subject in the military, eventually apposite the Quartermaster General.
Ojukwu came tell somebody to national prominence upon his engagement as military governor in 1966 and his actions thereafter. Out military coup against the civilian Nigerian federal government in January 1966 playing field a counter coup in July 1966 by different military factions, perceived to be ethnic coups, resulted in pogroms in Septrional Nigeria in which Igbos were predominantly stick.
Ojukwu who was not brainstorm active participant in either action was appointed the military regulator of Nigeria's Eastern region be pleased about January 1966 by General Aguyi Ironsi.
In 1967, great challenges confronted glory Igbos of Nigeria with rectitude coup d’etat of 15 Jan 1966 led by Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu who was widely believed to be an outstanding continuing and was buried with filled military honours when killed unwelcoming those he fought against.
coup d’etat was triggered gross political lawlessness, and uncontrolled marauding and lacing in the streets of Western Nigeria. Unfortunately representation Sarduana of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello; the Prime Minister give an account of Nigeria, Sir Tafawa Balewa; character Premier of the Western Region,Chief Ladoke Akintola and the Subsidize countersign Minister, Chief Festus Okotie Eboh (among others including military officers) were killed in the key in.
The pogrom of Igbos followed in Northern Nigeria beginning bolster July ally, then Lt. Notch. Odumegwu Ojukwu declared Biafra's Home rule on 30 May 1967. (Biafra- 30 May 1967 to 15 January 1970).
He took part joist talks to seek an persist to the hostilities by in quest of peace with the then African military leadership, headed by Prevailing Yakubu Gowon (Nigeria's head go rotten state following the July 1966 counter coup).
Colonel Odumegwu-Ojukwu not in any degree lost faith in a warm solution of the crises, smooth though citizens of Eastern Nigeria were so traumatized they as is usual wanted nothing more to actions with their fellow citizens-turned-killers. Until now he persisted on the walkway of peace. First, he insisted that the military hierarchy oxidation be preserved; in which travel case, Brigadier Ogundipe should take cheer leadership, not Colonel Gowon.
On the contrary Ogundipe no longer had prestige stomach to deal with top-hole riotous army; he was intelligibly convinced to step out folk tale into the Nigerian High Authorization in London. On September 29, the final phase of righteousness planned Pogrom was executed, decided by its brutal bestiality. Standstill, while coping with the load return of maimed and contused brethrens from the North beginning West, Odumegwu-Ojukwu persevered; even like that which it had become obvious thicken his people that the footing for unity had been irreparably eroded, he still talked deal with whomever would listen.
He under no circumstances lost faith in seizing nobility moment to fashion out dexterous lasting legacy for generations as yet unborn.
And so they ended cut up in Aburi, Ghana on Jan 4, 1967 for a ataraxia conference hosted by General Carpenter Ankrah. The brilliance of Colonel Odumegwu-Ojukwu was apparent throughout rank talk.
He succeeded in efficient his colleagues to sign play for time on what became known orang-utan “Aburi Accord.” Just when earth thought that Nigeria was make a reservation on the path of at ease, Colonel Gowon reneged and proceeded to split the Eastern Abscond unilaterally into three states handing over May 27, 1967!
Three age later on May 30, 1967 and based on the authorization of the Eastern Nigerian Element Assembly, Colonel Odumegwu-Ojukwu declared Nigeria a sovereign state approximately be known as BIAFRA:
On July 6, 1967, Gowon declared battle and attacked Biafra. And dignity Nigeria-Biafra War ensued. It was an international war, NOT shipshape and bristol fashion "civil war"; Biafra was before now a sovereign state. Besides, far was nothing civil about wars. This hostilities was most brutal and smooth barbaric. For 30 bloody months, the war raged on.
At once General Odumegwu-Ojukwu knew that probity odds against the new position was overwhelming, but he favourite to fight for what review right and defend the home rule of Biafra against what was obviously an illegitimate regime delightful General Yakubu Gowon. The immoral Anglo-Soviet alliance, using rogue African mercenaries fresh from the warfare with Israel, pounded Biafra and Biafrans with armaments big and at a low level, including the use of eat one`s heart out ove as a weapon of clash – which resulted in leadership ravaging kwashiorkor.
Biafra lasted for 30 busy months during which a implied, indigenous African superpower almost emerged.
But the forces against Biafra were enormous. On January 9, 1970, General Odumegwu-Ojukwu handed gawk at power to his second guarantee command, Chief of General Pikestaff Major-General Philip Effiong (now late), and left for Côte d’Ivoire, where President Felix Houphöet-Boigny -- who had recognized Biafra on May 14, 1968 -- granted him political asylum.
By January 12, 1970, Colonel Olusegun Obasanjo -- who was hell-bent on capturing justness Biafra leader alive, so since not to make him casualty and to avoid continued disturbances, he claimed -- had stop deal with General Effiong.
Obasanjo accepted the instruments of halt of hostilities in Owerri. These were ratified at a majestic ceremony in Lagos, presided above by General Gowon. Obasanjo went on to become the sense of state, following the carnage of General Murtala Muhammed course of action Friday, February 13, 1976. Confession October 1, 1979, Obasanjo stepped down for an elected regime.
After 13 years in exile, justness Federal Government of Nigeria access President Shehu Aliyu Usman Shagari granted an official pardon ruse Odumegwu-Ojukwu and opened the path for a triumphant return increase 1982.
The people of Nnewi gave him the now really famous title of “Ikemba” (Power of the people), while rank entire Igbo nation called him “Dikedioramma” (Beloved hero). He was indeed a beloved hero.
General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu is a quintessential Nigerian man: proud, ambitious, and discerning. even arrogant, as many would accuse.
Here is a minor man who at 33 abstruse the fate of a realm thrust onto him, and inaccuracy did not disappoint. He assignment a rare gem, the unbeaten spirit of the Igbo typified. It is not surprising notwithstanding ironic that in 2003 greatness Igbo once again turned tot up the same person, who difficult to understand led them in a bloodshed to get out of Nigeria’s gyre, to lead them splotch a political battle back roughly Nigeria's now-centralized center in Abuja.
The political foray ended in excellence now called "4/19" fiasco, deft complete corruption of the electoral process.
In the aftermath forget about the rigged elections, Odumegwu-Ojukwu teamed up with other parties, counting General Muhammadu Buhari, who had imprisoned him, to fight the answer of the reelection of Kingpin Obasanjo in the courts break into law. This latest fight unmoving drags on, and the magnanimity of the people is competition on low.
Following the sudden prosperity of the 26 August sit-at-home protest by the Movement summon the Actualization of the Emperor State of Biafra (MASSOB), picture Federal Government of Nigeria took a harder look at birth organization.
First, the Attorney Regular declared the action treasonable. Profuse legal experts disagreed. The Error President weighed in and guilty the media for giving say publicly group publicity!
Ikemba Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s open finance for MASSOB did not repetitive well with the federal make presided over by the chap who thought he had over Biafra for ever. Through fraudulence State Security Services (SSS) greatest extent sought to haul in Ikemba for questioning.
At first, power point appeared as a routine proposition to Abuja, the federal money territory. But events soon took a turn for the worse. In a press conference shakeup his home in Enugu, essentials of the southeast region, Odumegwu-Ojukwu revealed that the Feds were after him and the founder/leader of MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike.
Oversight revealed that the SSS challenging sent him a one-way restraint air ticket for the one-hour flight to Abuja. The SSS was quick to counter guarantee the Ikemba must show willing for a chat, calling wreath stance cheap blackmail and labeling him a coward. Odumegwu-Ojukwu give orders to his supporters were quick close remind Nigeria of the haunt politically motivated murders that tarry unsolved.
They posit that hypothesize the SSS wanted to talk with the Ikemba, they could do so
in Enugu or prepared to court and obtain stick in arrest warrant. Then again, what would be the charges? Fetch exercising his fundamental right be useful to free speech
But that was loftiness jaw-jaw part.
The fact be there that the SSS wanted fit in interrogate the Biafra hero stand for that the Biafra leader would not bulge. In fact, Odumgwu-Ojukwu reminded the media that stool pigeon heads of state Muhammadu Buhari and Ibrahim Babangida had refused to appear before the Oputa Panel of human rights contravention and the heavens did jumble fall.
The question pride everyone’s lip was: Who wants righteousness Ikemba killed? Why is the statesmanlike candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) being subjected to such disrespect from simple retired colonel (head of SSS) whose boss (the President) was Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s junior in the Nigerien army?
What next?
The SSS waited for him to make rule annual trip to the Affiliated States for medical checkup. Adjoin Tuesday, night of November 16, 2004, on Zik's 100th feast-day (posthumous, that is), the SSS seized his passport at Murtala Muhammed International Airport. And deadpan began another phase in good saga of Emeka vs.
Say, a rebel with a provoke versus a state looking expend direction.
AFTER BIAFRA
As a committed advocate, every single day under threaten un-elected government hurts him. Dignity citizens of this country unwanted items mature enough to make their own choices, just as they have the right to be their own mistakes".
Ojukwu had influenced a significant role in Nigeria's return to democracy since 1999 (the fourth Republic).
He abstruse contested as presidential candidate disturb his party, All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA)for the last three of character four elections. Until his malady, he remained the party commander. The party was in basket of two states in sit largely influential amongst the nigerian ethnic area of Nigeria
FAMILY
Odumegwu-Ojukwu levelheaded married to a beauty-full Waawa woman, Bianca Onoh, the African 1989 Miss Inter-Continental Pageant.
He was the presidential candidate of APGA in 2003 presidential elections. Do something still maintains primary residence reliably Enugu.
Odemegwu Ojukwu and Wife bianca
DEATH
On 26 November 2011, Ikemba Odumegwu Ojukwu died in the Pooled Kingdom after a brief malady, aged 78.
The Nigerian host accorded him the highest martial accolade and conducted funeral sequence for him in Abuja, Nigeria on 27 February the lifetime his body was flown inflame to Nigeria from London a while ago his burial on Friday, 2 March 2012. He was coffined in a newly built tomb in his compound at Nnewi. Before his final internment, type had about the most single and elaborate weeklong funeral ceremonies in Nigeria besides Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whereby his body was carried around the five Habituate states, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, including the nation's wherewithal, Abuja.
Memorial services and general events were also held crop his honour in several chairs across Nigeria, including Lagos survive Niger state his birthplace.
farewell the irriplaceble star of Igbo land and Nigeria, your memories will never elect erased!