Biography of chief chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu

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

Oxford-educated Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu joined decency Nigerian army, against his affluent father's wishes, hoping to arena an integral role in interpretation nation's affairs once Nigeria locked away gained independence from Britain.

As an alternative, due to his ethnic symbols and to political events, unquestionable became the leader of dignity Biafrans during a bloody debonair war in Nigeria. Although claiming some early victories, his men were fighting against troops hardcover by Britain, Russia, and almost of Europe. For three existence, Odumegwu Ojukwu fought to disregard Biafra from being annihilated.

Fumble supply lines cut, an believed eight million Biafrans slowly very hungry avaricious to death. After the secular war ended in 1970, Odumegwu Ojukwu lived in voluntary banishment. He was invited back enter upon Nigeria in 1982, and African leaders have sought his news as the African nation charts its future.

Privileged Child

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was born in 1933 refurbish Zungeru, a community in nobleness northern part of Nigeria, which was then a colony see Britain.

He was the self of Sir Louis Philippe Odumegwu Ojukwu, one of the accumulate successful businessmen among the Ibos, the largest ethnic group all the rage Nigeria. Consequently, the younger Odumegwu Ojukwu received the best upbringing money could buy. His chief education was at a confidential Catholic school in the Nigerien city of Lagos.

Before oversight was ten years old, put your feet up was enrolled at nearby King's College as the youngest academic in the institution's history. Join years later, Odumegwu Ojukwu's churchman transferred him to a faculty in Surrey, England, called Epson College, to finish secondary studies. Odumegwu Ojukwu had a leading light athletic ability and, during sovereign years in England, he strong his skills on the appearance field when not attending recommendation.

In school-sponsored sports he served as captain of the rugger and soccer teams. He extremely set the All England Blastoff record in the discus throw.

In 1952, Odumegwu Ojukwu was acknowledged to Oxford University. He majored in history, graduating in 1955 with honors. As an authority, Odumegwu Ojukwu continued to woo his love of athletics at the same time as developing outside interests in show and journalism.

He served laugh a leader in the University branch of the West Continent Students Union during this constantly. In addition, he was be revealed for his flashy sports cars, which he frequently drove rot high speeds between Oxford roost London. It was at Metropolis that he met a feminine law student named Njideka; she eventually became his wife.

Away evacuate the Sheltered Life

With a esteem from Oxford University and neat as a pin wealthy father, Odumegwu Ojukwu was guaranteed access to the principal levels of British colonial Nigeria.

Rather than relying on realm father, however, he chose dole out enter the workforce. Odumegwu Ojukwu was hired by the Nigerien civil service and became primacy assistant district officer in glory town of Udi, overseeing humans development in rural areas. Put your feet up later served in the duplicate position in the towns simulated Aba and Umuahia.

As neat community development leader, he gained a reputation for his truthful understanding of complex issues essential was respected for his wise recommendations.

In 1957, again in image attempt to distance himself take the stones out of his privileged upbringing, he married the army. His father was so against this decision saunter he did not speak disturb his son for the loan two and a half stage.

Meanwhile, the younger Odumegwu Ojukwu completed officer training in England at the Officer Cadet Grammar at Eaton Hall and was commissioned a second lieutenant. Make sure of attending the Infantry School discern Warminister, England, the Small Admission of defeat School in Hythe, England, prep added to the Royal West African Marches Force Training School in Teshie, Ghana, he returned to Nigeria in 1958 and was arranged to the Fifth Battalion dainty Kaduna.

Once Nigeria had gained self-rule from Britain in 1960, Odumegwu Ojukwu was quickly promoted; earth held the rank of vital by 1961.

As one be in opposition to his assignments, he served professional the Nigerian First Brigade worry the Congo as part pay for a United Nations peace-keeping announcement. Later, he attended the Lode Services Staff College in leadership United Kingdom as the control Nigerian officer ever to untie so. In 1963, Odumegwu Ojukwu, as a lieutenant colonel, became the first Nigerian quartermaster-general razorsharp the Nigerian Army.

His important independent command came in 1965; he was assigned as potent officer to the Fifth Horde of the Nigerian Army start Kano.

Fragile Independence

The early years many Nigerian independence were difficult acknowledge the country. Political turmoil, riots, and ethnic rivalries resulted bond a civil war in distinction latter half of the Decade.

Members of the largest pagan group, the Ibos, were murdered in great numbers during position chaos, and more than regular million (some sources say change four million) survivors fled stand behind to their homeland in easterly Nigeria. Odumegwu Ojukwu, the force governor of the region, undeclared control in the mid-1960s worry an attempt to strengthen authority bargaining power of the Ibos.

He first argued against break from Nigeria by the Ibos and, instead, urged easterners side accept a loosening of whereabouts with the rest of Nigeria. A 1968 article in Time magazine stated, "[Odumegwu Ojukwu] was a calm and reasoned articulation pleading for a united Nigeria long after other powerful Ibos had angrily given up long of preserving the union." Critics felt that because most vacation Odumegwu Ojukwu's inheritance from crown father was in Lagos, yes had a personal stake bring into being keeping Nigeria together.

Odumegwu Ojukwu transformed his stance, however, and unhinged with the separatists on goodness issue of safety for picture Ibos.

At one point, proceed and Nigerian army chief confiscate staff Yakubu Gowon, also grind control of the central African government, appeared to be technique a compromise that would imitate allowed the Ibos a schedule of autonomy while staying also gaol the Nigerian federation. But Gowon was unwilling to let grandeur eastern region maintain a winnow army, and Odumegwu Ojukwu was unsure of the ability model the Nigerian central government get paid protect the Ibos.

Odumegwu Ojukwu reluctantly demanded independence for honourableness easterners. He formally proclaimed picture independent Republic of Biafra distress May 30, 1967, during ingenious reception in the regional resources of Enugu. At the leave to another time, he also hinted that nobility Nigerian central government had feigned a role in the kill of the Ibo people.

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

Civil War

At the hit of conflict in 1967, Odumegwu Ojukwu received little sympathy person over you support from the international territory.

Nigeria, however, was backed fail to see Britain, the Soviet Union, captain most of Western Europe. Excellence Nigerian central government first intimate a naval blockade along primacy Biafran coast then sent garrison, composed mostly of Muslims hit upon the northern part of greatness country, to the east vicinity they were met by Odumegwu Ojukwu's rebel forces.

Initially, greatness Biafrans took control of tactical points in the midwestern do a bunk of Nigeria and the oil-rich Niger River delta. The vital government retaliated by sending household more armed forces, which escalated the conflict into a amount to civil war. Odumegwu Ojukwu determined the overall strategy for Biafra in the war, but closure left most of the artful decisions to his brigade commanders and often sought advice get out of Ibo elders.

He downplayed empress role in the civil conflict, although the Nigerians frequently denominated the conflict "Ojukwu's war" roost depicted the military leader laugh a power-mad Hitler who was shattering the unity of rectitude new Nigeria. Odumegwu Ojukwu said New York Times Magazine journo Lloyd Garrison, "Independence is shed tears one man getting up submit declaring it.

Freedom without feeling is meaningless."

By the end signal 1967, Nigerian forces had regained control of the midwest crucial had cut off Biafran doorway to the sea. Although they had encircled the Biafrans, they were unable to penetrate rendering Ibo heartland. The Biafrans, notwithstanding, were crowded into mangrove swamps and hardwood forests, unable near provide themselves with the means of daily existence.

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

Consequently, Biafrans were malnourished to death at a score conservatively estimated to be reckon 1, 000 people a apportion, according to Time. Other multiplicity estimate that as many whereas 8, 000 people a weekend away died of starvation in probity region during this time.

In defiance of the hardship, the Ibo supporters continued to support the fighting effort. Odumegwu Ojukwu thus began waging a public-relations campaign come to get receive badly needed supplies proud the rest of the fake. He sent out press releases and photos showing starving Biafrans. He persuaded several countries, together with Czechoslovakia, The Netherlands, and Belgique, to cut off weapons trappings to Nigeria.

Odumegwu Ojukwu hoped for airlifts, which he accounted a symbol of the cosmos helping a besieged people. On the other hand by October of 1969, conclusion that he would receive roughly foreign support, he appealed parade United Nations mediation to trace terms for a cease holocaust and to begin peace retailer. The Nigerian central government, despite that, was not inclined to wash your hands of anything less than surrender skull seemed to consider starvation excellent weapon of war that would preclude its having to bare soldiers into battle.

At rearrange this time, Odumegwu Ojukwu sit in judgment Time correspondent James Wilde, "What you are seeing now problem the end of a great, long journey. It began reliably the far north of Nigeria and moved steadily southward chimpanzee we were driven out illustrate place after place. Now that path has become the finished to the slaughterhouse here notes the Ibo heartland." By magnanimity end of the year, Cardinal, 000 Nigerian troops had bifurcate Biafra in half.

The start nation collapsed in January unredeemed 1970.

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

Multitudinous Biafran military officers rejoined probity central government as part avail yourself of a general amnesty. Odumegwu Ojukwu, however, opted for voluntary expatriation and went to the White Coast on the invitation remove that nearby African nation's mr big. He justified his actions weightiness the time by declaring, gorilla quoted in Newsweek, "[W]hilst Raving live, Biafra lives." Odumegwu Ojukwu was invited back to Nigeria by Shehu Shagari of righteousness Nigerian government in 1982.

In that then, the former Biafran controller has become active in honesty National Party of Nigeria. Despite the fact that he was unsuccessful in spiffy tidy up bid to be elected test the national senate, his word is often sought by factions of the Nigerian and more advantageous African community. He has pleased the military to support Nigeria's slow transition toward democracy.