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Info For You Lot Dim Chukuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu: The Nigerian-Biafran Iconic Warrior As Well As The Giant Ikemba Of Igboland

Thursday, December 6, 2018 Add Comment Edit

"For you lot (Igbo together with Eastern Nigerians), I abandoned all ease together with embraced pain. For you lot I impoverish myself to purchase your protection. For you, I walked every battlefront to assure your welfare. For you, I stood when every other someone crouched. For you, I endured 13 years of bitter exile. For you, I endured 10 months of maximum security prison. For you, I endured priestly poverty. For you, I proceed to struggle...
What I have got said is non harsh, it is only the naked truth together with it reverberate only the intensity of the dear I harbour for my people." General Dim Christopher Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Ikemba of Nnewi, Dikedioramma, Eze Igbo Gburugburu, Biafran Warlord together with a prominent Nigerian politician

On Jan twelfth 1970 the state of war ended alongside the collapse of Biafra together with the flying of Ojukwu (although he said he would expire rather than run away). General Yakubu Gowon declared that at that spot would live no victors together with no vanquished together with at that spot appears to have got been no retribution i time the fighting stopped. But at that spot was no peace edifice or reconciliation either. Nigeria returned to peace, Ojukwu returned to Nigeria together with was given an official pardon. But many Ibos experience they have got been excluded from high business office ever since together with at that spot has been piffling give-and-take of the state of war or its effects. The history of the state of war together with its causes is non taught inward schools together with until Chimamanda Adichie’s novel Half of a Yellow Sun at that spot was no written retentiveness of what happened.
Perhaps alongside the expiry of Ojukwu that volition change.

Richard Dowden is Director of the Royal African Society together with author of Africa: altered states, ordinary miracles

NIGER-DELTA INDIGENES CELEBRATE ODUMEGWU-OJUKWU
The Coordinator, Ijaw Monitoring Group (IMG), Mr Joseph Evah, on Midweek inward Lagos urged the Federal Government to rename the Eagle Square, Abuja equally ``Odumegwu-Ojukwu Square’’.
Evah made the plea at an lawsuit organised past times Niger-Delta indigenes inward honour of the belatedly Ikemba of Nnewi, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
``The Federal Government should confirm the slogan that Abuja is, indeed, the Centre of Unity past times renaming the Eagle Square, Abuja equally ``Odumegwu-Ojukwu Square,’’ inward the same way the onetime Race course of study inward Lagos was renamed ``Tafawa Balewa Square,’’ he said.
Evah described Odumegwu-Ojukwu equally a prophetic revolutionary together with a human being who believed that the Nigeria dream should live based on Justice.
``The prophetic revolutionary succeeded inward convincing all actors inward the civil state of war to sign off on what was known equally the ``Aburi Accord,’’ the `famous’ document which was signed at Aburi, Republic of Ghana inward Jan 1967,’’ he said.

Evah recalled that during the conference inward Ghana, Ojukwu’s articulations together with brilliance resonated together with it was clear that he was a human being that saw `tomorrow’.
According to him, the Aburi Accord would have got solved most of the nation’s political together with economical problems.
``The solutions Odumegwu-Ojukwu proffered for peaceful coexistence together with national unity were based on the Aburi Accord together with they are soundless germane,’’ Evah said.
Earlier, the chairman of the occasion, Mr Ben Murray-Bruce, who was represented, said Odumegwu-Ojukwu deserved all the honour beingness accorded him because he was a great man.
Bruce also suggested that the Federal Government should give Odumegwu-Ojukwu some appropriate recognition past times renaming a national monument after him.
In his remarks, Mr Daniel Amassoma, President, Ijaw Youth Development Association, said Ojukwu was a leader who believed inward equity, justice together with fairness.
``Ojukwu was a leader the youth so much believed in; a leader that every follower would ever desire to follow, till the real end.
``As he has passed on, nosotros volition non live tired, but nosotros shall proceed to seek until nosotros are able to acquire a leader similar him,’’ Amassoma said.
In his tribute, the Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State, Chief Christian Chukwuemeka Nwachukwu, also supported the telephone phone to immortalise Ojukwu, maxim he was a fighter for Justice.
``We have got made an fantabulous proposition to President Goodluck Jonathan together with nosotros facial expression that he volition psyche our advice together with immortalise Ojukwu, equally a way of showing dear to a great Nigerian.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu (78), a onetime Military Governor of the defunct Eastern Region together with a retired Nigerian armed services officer, who died inward a London Hospital on Nov. 26, is to live buried inward his hometown, Nnewi, Anambra State, on March 2. (NAN)

Source:http://www.nanngronline.com/section/general/niger-delta-indigenes-celebrate-odumegwu-ojukwu

'HOW SHAGARI GRANTED OJUKWU AMNESTY'

By 1981, especially after President Shehu Shagari granted amnesty to General Yakubu Gowon, Emeka, who was fond of calling Gowon 'Jack,' felt that their 'two cases' could have got been considered inward tandem, but because the people of Plateau made a potent illustration for Gowon, spell 'the East' was non able to nowadays a united front end on his case, it would appear to Shagari that Gowon's illustration was a to a greater extent than pressing national issue. He so suggested that nosotros pursue a novel first past times making the necessary contacts alongside those within the listening hit of President Shagari together with others exterior of this orbit. The primary targets were Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, Dr. Ibrahim Tahir together with Chief Victor Masi.

Okadigbo was to live the arrowhead, since he was the Political Adviser to the President. Tahir, so Chairman of the Board of Nigerian Telecommunications, was chosen because of his influence together with political pre-eminence within northern political circles. Masi was an of import Minister of Works inward the Shagari management together with a bright Army Captain alongside the Biafran Army Engineers. General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu gave these equally his reasons for preferring that nosotros worked alongside these eminent Nigerians.

The coming together alongside Tahir together with Obiano
In portion 2 of this narrative that appeared in conclusion week, I traced the initial involvement of Okadigbo inward the projection of Emeka's homecoming, together with how I took him together with Obiozo to Bingerville to encounter together with hash out alongside the General. Soon after nosotros returned to Nigeria, nosotros tracked Dr. Tahir at Ikoyi Hotel, where he was temporarily accommodated. He was real warm together with polite to us together with Okadigbo had tutored Vincent Obiano together with I how to nowadays the illustration to Tahir. As he chain-smoked, he listened us out together with made promises he so dutifully fulfilled. We so moved to Victor Masi's official residence inward Ikoyi. He was waiting for us. Obiano had contacted him, for they knew themselves at the University of Nigeria inward the early on sixties. Here, again, the reception was warm together with friendly. Before nosotros knew it, Emeka called Chief Ike Onunaku, a top direction staff of the United Africa Company (UAC) (I hateful the UAC nether Chief Ernest Shonekan), who was a portion of us together with who hosted so many of our meetings inward those hard days, to say he was getting feelers on how effective the squad had become. By this time, Emeka had asked Colonel Joe Achuzia to bring together us together with to grip the security factor of the project. We continued to encounter regularly at Onunaku's Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi residence - Bless his soul.

Ojukwu met Shinkafi inward London
One early on Sabbatum morning, Onunaku sent his driver to convey me to Ikoyi. 'What about'? I asked the driver. He wouldn't know beyond the instruction to acquire to my Ikeja residence together with 'get Kanayo hither before 2 o'clock.' When I arrived, I was told that the General wanted to give me a novel brief past times 3pm, together with since I didn't have got a telephone at home, Onunaku's identify at Ikoyi was the best option. At exactly 3 o'clock, the telephone phone came through together with Emeka said he had simply returned to Abidjan from London, where he had 'fruitful together with rewarding discussions' alongside the Director-General of the Nigeria Security Organization (NSO), Alhaji Shinkafi. I was to constitute a potent media squad to start working on softening the Earth for his journeying home. His coming together inward London alongside Shinkafi had increased his optimism that his days inward exile were, indeed, coming to an end, he said. He sounded slightly excited, together with I was happy together with so was Chief Onunaku.

The media campaign
Two days later, I traveled to Enugu on a Nigeria Airways flight, inward the fellowship of Vincent Obiano. We were inward Enugu to enquire for the back upwards of a proficient friend together with colleague, Obinwa Nnaji, who was so Editor of Dominicus Satellite of the Satellite Newspaper Group inward Enugu. We confided inward him together with told him exactly how the General wanted the media aspect of the projection handled from the East. After getting his advice, back upwards together with employment solid commitment, Vincent together with I came dorsum to Lagos. The next day, I drove to Iwaya Road Yaba, Lagos to brief together with asking the back upwards together with sympathy of veteran journalist together with editor, Gbolabo Ogunsawo, the onetime editor of Dominicus Times. Emeka knew him past times reputation together with specifically advised me to hit out to him. In his days equally the editor, the weekly was reputed to live the highest circulating paper inward Africa, southward of Sahara. And from exile, he was a loyal reader of Dominicus Times.
We secured Gbalabo's sympathy together with through him the understanding of the Unity Party of Nigeria, equally good equally access to equally many editors inward the Lagos/Ibadan media axis equally possible. Obinwa Nnaji also inherited the duty of getting his editor colleagues inward the South East to stair upwards the media campaign. Before nosotros all knew it, Ojukwu's homecoming to Nigeria had developed into a huge national give-and-take together with conversation. Indomitable Tai Solarin added his vocalism inward an article that was published inward both the Nigerian Tribune together with the Daily Sketch.
The debate was at nowadays widening together with going inward the direction nosotros had planned. And Emeka was letting us know that he was next developments closely but warned: 'You must non relent until Shagari pronounces the magic word 'Emeka, Come Home.'' Dr. Chuba Okadigbo was doing simply fine inward the political turf. He called me i twenty-four hr menstruum to say that the media tempo must non go downwardly at all. Gbolabo, Obinwa together with I were taking attention of the media angle. Colonel Achuzia (now a original inward his native Asaba together with its Ochiagha) was making progress alongside security arrangements. Everything was going good. Everybody was cooperating together with the halt of Emeka's days inward exile was nearing its terminal stage.

Shagari's declaration
In a terse tilt issued past times the presidency, Shehu Shagari allowed Emeka to come upwards habitation together with a huge volley of joy together with jubilation were unleashed. Preparations for his trip habitation began inward earnest. Individuals together with groups that were afraid to advert Emeka Ojukwu's squall inward populace since Jan 1970 began to come upwards out of their holes, similar termites. I recollect i swain who refused to touching the missive of the alphabet from Ojukwu to him inward 1972, together with fifty-fifty warned Emeka Enejere together with I never to advert that nosotros ever saw or came to his business office located inward key Lagos, was busy granting elaborate press interviews shortly after the amnesty announcement. He was hailing the General equally 'my infinite hero,' who is on his way dorsum home. Such is life.
At the halt of it all, however, many genuine Igbo groups made contacts alongside us together with began to donate fourth dimension together with buses that would convey people to Lagos together with back.

Source:http://www.nanngronline.com/section/general/niger-delta-indigenes-celebrate-odumegwu-ojukwu

'HOW SHAGARI GRANTED OJUKWU AMNESTY'

By Eni Akinsola 04/12/2011 00:00:00

Beautiful, if that could capture it, is similar an understatement. For inward her seventies, the grace together with elegance that must have got made the Ikemba autumn caput over heels inward dear decades agone were apparent. With a disarming smile, an intellect that is confounding together with a retentiveness that is outstanding, Mrs Njideka Odumegwu-Ojukwu is a dependent for a whole biography. But that may never come upwards out of her. She simply is non attracted past times publicity. In this interview, a lot of areas were marked equally no go areas, a lot of fields non to live touched. Obvious, however, is the fact that at that spot are far likewise many truths lurking within her that only a volume tin fully capture. What nosotros serve hither thus is the summary of an interview session alongside the adult woman who saw the Nigerian Civil War equally the married adult woman of i of the 2 most of import players - Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu; a adult woman who gave nativity to 4 successful children together with has remained elegant fifty-fifty inward her seventies. Eni Akinsola spoke alongside her. (Note: this interview was first of all published inward The Nation on Sunday, June 22, 2008. Mrs Ojukwu passed on March 24, 2010)

What was your childhood together with growing upwards like?
My nativity was said to live special inward that my mum was barely 7 months meaning when I came prematurely alongside my twin sister. We were said to have got been covered alongside all sorts of clothing, wool together with other things to brand us warm. My mum could non offering bosom milk because she was non likewise good together with so nosotros had to live bosom-fed past times other women. I made it but the other kid didn’t. I was named Njideka, which agency “I am grateful for this child.”

My parents had 7 of us, i died at 13 together with I became the 2nd from the original 3rd seat amid the children. I attended St. Monica’s inward Onitsha together with Archdeacon Crowder Memorial Girls School, Elelenwo, close Port Harcourt. I was born inward a Christian family. My parents were real strict Christians. It’s hard to say this, but the truth is that I was born inward abundance. I had everything I wanted. True also is that it wasn’t a happy childhood. My father, for reasons best known to him, wanted real much to conjoin me off together with yet he had v daughters, I was number two.

Coming from a wealthy home, how was schoolhouse like?
It was non tardily at all. Teenagers had their ain ways of thinking. We had so many people. My manly someone parent would non allow i to say howdy to a man.
But hither was I, inward Elelenwo, alongside students from University College, Ibadan coming to teach. I volition live going on, together with watch i together with say hello, or milkshake hands, my manly someone parent would watch that together with descend on me. Our house was so high that he could watch you lot from afar. In whatsoever case, I was non laid upwards to play shroud together with seek. I read a lot, stayed indoors a lot.

My manly someone parent was i of the pioneers inward the recording business. There was some other called Joe Febro, though I have got forgotten the human being behind it. Those days, they used to piece of work together.

My father, had 7 living children I was first of all number three, but when the eldest died at thirteen, I became the second.

How did your human relationship alongside Ojukwu start?
It was after my divorce from Dr. Brodi-Mends, a Ghanaian together with the manly someone parent of my first of all child, Iruaku. Ojukwu is somebody you lot watch around or bump into because our parents were employment organisation people. I’d seen him the twenty-four hr menstruum my younger sis was going to England at the airport. She knew him before me. Later on, he told me my sis was my best ambassador. That she was ever talking close me together with that I was ever at home.

Then, you lot had to wing past times a little aircraft from Enugu to Kano to bring together the British Airways. So, nosotros had gotten to the airdrome when my squall was announced, I was shocked. I had the feeling that maybe something terrible had happened to my father. My hands were shaking when they were giving me the telegraph. I opened it together with what was the content: “I am sorry; I hateful to come upwards to encounter you lot at the airport. But I was sent to Kpeshi (Teshie) inward Ghana. Emeka. “When I read it, I had to wonder, why is he concerned together with where is “Kpeshi”. Because, I was non familiar alongside armed services locations.
After that, I went to London together with continued alongside my life, until 3 years later, when I met him i time to a greater extent than at a subway station. I had gone alongside a friend of mine, Mrs. Obiekwe, she is belatedly now. While nosotros were going alongside the husband, somebody simply said ‘they do non greet people inward Igbo.’’ I turned dorsum together with lo together with behold, it was Emeka, who had escorted his manly someone parent to the station.

He said he was on a course of study together with asked for my telephone number together with I gave him. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 calendar week later, he called. “Hello, I am real sorry I have got non been able to call,” he said, I said no problem, inward whatsoever case, you lot give your number to several people non alongside whatsoever expectation that they’ll call. We met on several occasions thereafter. He pursued me similar I have got never experienced. At a betoken he asked me close a Canadian friend of mine together with said that I had to allow go of him.

One major ground I didn’t psyche him was my father. I was afraid he could have got a pump assail together with expire if he got to know I had a white friend. By then, nosotros were thinking of a serious relationship.

Anyway, Emeka was calling together with calling together with staying on the phone. I didn’t realize what he was upwards to until I asked him why he liked wasting fourth dimension together with money on phones. He asked if I genuinely wanted the truth, so revealed that he wanted to pick out that my friend, who he had christened “Canada.” off me! (laughter).

One day, Emeka invited me to his house. I took a friend of mine, Efun Shobande, alongside me. We got to his house together with he took me aside. So, you lot brought someone to come upwards together with spy on me? I laughed it off but that was indeed why I brought my friend alongside me.
By the way, I lost contact alongside Efun together with have got non seen her since. I empathise she was married together with was inward Kaduna, she was brought upwards inward Jos.
On the way dorsum the side past times side day, nosotros talked close him together with I was so confused, that when nosotros go to Baker Street, I almost passed out.
Efun told me that she liked together with preferred Emeka. In whatsoever case, she added, “he is a Nigerian.”

I thereafter, told him to acquire inward touching alongside my parents if he was serious. He had known close Iruaku, my missy past times Brodi-Mends. She was 2 when I left home. When I got dorsum to Nigeria, I saw a huge teddy bear alongside Iruaku together with when I asked who gave it to her, I was told it was Emeka.

He had patently wooed everybody inward the house over. My woman parent together with the relaxation were all inward dear alongside him. Our parents, fathers were good known to i another, though they are from Nnewi together with nosotros are from Nawfia, non likewise far from Awka.My woman parent together with the relaxation were all inward dear alongside him. Our parents, fathers were good known to i another, though they are from Nnewi together with nosotros are from Nawfia, non likewise far from Awka.

Your union alongside Ikemba started on a high. He was a armed services human being together with all that… Did you lot know he was inward the armed services when it started.?

I knew he was a soldier. But I didn’t know much close what beingness a soldier meant. There was a twenty-four hr menstruum he came habitation spell inward London alongside the British Army uniform, I asked him together with he said he is on course of study together with so have got to position on the uniform during the duration of the course.
I only got to know to a greater extent than when I came back. The first of all political party he took me took me to was Ironsi’s. I didn’t recollect seeing many women there. I recollect seeing Murtala Mohammed who was so Ironsi’s Aide De Camp. The men were so polished; spoke impeccable English, good mannered together with unbelievably polite. I was pleasantly surprised. So nosotros had people similar this inward Nigeria? I sort of liked them. The crop I saw was impressive. And Emeka was real proficient at taking attention of a woman.

Was he randy, total of soft words, romantic?
I didn’t fifty-fifty know the word is romance. Not really. He is simply a real form man, real polite, non intrusive. He cared less close what happened inward the kitchen, he simply settled for whatever you lot offered him. He respected me together with my persuasion a lot. Later, when the children got across to him, he would enquire them what my persuasion was on issues. And I loved him immensely inward return.

If you lot were this inward love, why the separation?
Well, somebody summed it up: Fredrick Forsyth inward his book. He knew the real showtime of the story. I concord alongside him that it is the war. I suppose, inward a given situation, where things are real bad, at that spot is ever a casualty. I guess I was the in conclusion casualty of the war.
I do non take hold Emeka responsible. I think at that spot was force per unit of measurement area on him to have got some other married adult woman together with he was resisting. And you lot know at that spot are other undercurrents that are improve left inward the past times where they belong.

So, i day, you lot simply decided to leave of absence him or he asked you lot to leave?
No, I simply left. I disappeared. I went to London. Okigbo my in conclusion boy was so around 2 together with a one-half years. He didn’t allow whatsoever of the children to go alongside me. Eventually, nosotros communicated i time to a greater extent than together with I got the children back.
Maybe the employment is that I can’t tolerate distraction inward my marriage. I gave all, my soul, life together with all together with could non stand upwards ridiculous stories. The unfortunate portion of it all was that I kept marrying unmarried sons. But if I had married i time to a greater extent than together with had trouble, I would simply have got left I dear my peace.

Since then, what have got you lot been doing?
I have got been doing business. When I was inward London, I was ordering George, jewelleries from India, Italia together with selling them to other traders. I couldn’t proceed alongside my education, so I went into buying together with selling. Some people asked me, what was Deka (West Africa) Limited (my company) into? And I answered: nosotros sell everything except illegal things.
Like your dad who was into buying together with selling before going into recording?
Yes, I learnt trading from him. He was into several other legitimate things. For instance, when he started the tape business, he would convey inward sample records together with play them, he would so enquire us to take heed inward together with from our reactions, he gets a fair thought of how the tape would live received past times buyers. In that way, nosotros were beingness used equally sounding boards.
Then he went into importing ladies’ things. Later on, he opened a recording factory, CTO, which stands for Christopher Tagbo Onyekwere.
Before I married, I worked for him for i twelvemonth equally a clerk together with I was for the of import together with export section. So, I acquire on the job. Of the several of us Tagbo is an accountant, Ndubuisi, the other boy, an engineer, is the i managing the relaxation of my dad’s business.
Tagbo was inward London for sometime together with so moved to Zambia, where he was similar the governor of the Central Bank for some time. Definitely after the war, my identify unit of measurement was non comfortable here.
The mill was burnt during the war, because it was on the H2O front. My elderberry sister, I told you lot was a nurse, together with was i of the best nurses I have got ever met. She had a clinic. She is belatedly at nowadays together with had children.
When I was asking close you lot from the commissioner, your son, I could read admiration together with deep respect. And he said, he never heard whatsoever bad word from you lot against his father. I know you lot have got your grouses, why did you lot maintain them to yourself?
You see, it is destructive to convey children into the disagreements of their parents. In my case, he is non a criminal; he is a real form man. He was non criminally involved. He did non pocket spell inward government, he doesn’t know how to pocket government’s money. And that was why he was fifty-fifty spending our money. So, at that spot was indeed cipher to tell.
I couldn’t brand upwards a storey because I wanted to brand him bad alongside the children.
If at that spot was a criminal offense you lot could take hold against him, it would live that he loved women. Ordinarily that is a thing i should live able to position upwards with, but it is non that uncomplicated when you lot are inward dear alongside a man. In whatsoever illustration when you lot dear a man, at that spot are so many things you lot don’t ever do.
He, I must say, is dissimilar most Nigerian men. His likes are non common. In maintaining the family, he was much similar my dad. He does non interfere alongside what happens inward the kitchen. He has a long of proficient points.

Well, have got you lot been communicating?
Yes, real well. In bringing upwards the children, he is ever there. Whenever, proximity allows, he comes inward hither together with nosotros hash out specific issues of importance. We were never inward whatsoever irreconcilable crisis. And nosotros part observe for i another.

How was the state of war for you? The fact that you lot were the married adult woman of the Head of State of a breakaway country; how was the force per unit of measurement area of the war, the children together with the family?
Let me tell you lot i truthful story. When the state of war started, the married adult woman of the Commissioner of Police came upwards to my house together with asked; Madam, how do you lot hold out inward all these because the tension was simply likewise much? She said: “do you lot know, this man, she was referring to her husband, whenever he goes out, I ever experience I am going to melt. My trunk would live shaking. You know, I dear my hubby so much I can’t imagine what I would do if he dies.”
I told her that I tackle the tension past times settling for the worse, fifty-fifty when I pray fervently that it does non happen. Each fourth dimension he goes out, I pretend that it may live the in conclusion fourth dimension I’ll live seeing him. I felt that the best thing to do is to live prepared anytime to live a widow. That I felt would live the best mental attitude because if not, you lot volition expire immediately. If you lot dear a human being similar that, all you lot could do if the unexpected happens, is to swallow real hard together with simply motility on. You see, I am so calm. There was this particular doc who used to come upwards to pick out what he needed for others from the piffling nosotros were getting equally relief materials during the war. He refers to me equally ‘always unruffled”. May live it’s inward the way I’m made.

Was at that spot no fourth dimension you lot felt threatened equally a person? When you lot felt expiry was close? Were you lot prepared to expire for the cause? Were you lot convinced close the Biafra thing?
If you lot saw what happened to Igbos inward the north… I was so angry. I told my hubby I would have got been inward the tanks if I wasn’t married to him. When they were bringing people from the North; headless men, women … they position bottles within them. I was real angry. I felt I should leave of absence at that spot together with kill all of them. There was no way you lot could watch the returning casualties together with non acquire angry. Let me give you lot an example. One day, when I came dorsum from Ivory Coast, I was on my way to Broad Street. I didn’t know my way around. One gentleman inward suit, extremely low-cal inward complexion, patently from the North, introduced himself. Please tin I encounter you? His squall was a northern name. I said, oh my God! And went away showing how bitter I was.

Is at that spot whatsoever ground for Biafra now?
You tell me. Is at that spot whatsoever ground for Biafra equally a Nigerian? (Here at that spot was a debate on nowadays realities.) I don’t know. It’s almost impossible, but it won’t be. It tin tumble out if they are non careful. The way they are treating everybody, fifty-fifty Yorubas sometimes agone threatened to go away. And you lot people (Yoruba) allow us downwardly because nosotros wanted southern solidarity. Have you lot non heard of that?
It is non over yet. It may non come upwards inward this manner. It may non live Yoruba wanting to go away or Igbo wanting to go away. Something terrible tin happen. You cannot proceed to oppress people similar this. They forcefulness their ways into powerfulness or rig elections together with rob the identify dry out together with they are non fifty-fifty ashamed. What haven’t nosotros seen?
When Emeka was a governor, he was young, early on thirties because both of us were married when nosotros were thirty. I recollect i day, i ambassador came together with left a little chain together with pendant for him to give me. He rejected it. It took a lot of persuasion from everybody at that spot before he accepted it. The illustration at nowadays is different.
Do you lot know that Nigeria is the tenth Earth inward the Earth inward damage of the gap betwixt the rich together with the poor? And the people who are rich don’t fifty-fifty know how to brand money, only how to steal. In our ain time, my manly someone parent worked himself to death. They didn’t know what resting was all about. Nowadays, people simply flaunt their unearned wealth. It’s non fair.
To some people he was unforgiving,

Yorubas or those that he dealt with?
Not Yorubas. Several people inward write-ups have got said he is stubborn, inflexible together with rigid. I know you lot dear him, you lot soundless dear him, together with he was your husband. How do you lot watch him?
He wasn’t intransigent or inflexible. You see, he was non stubborn to me, together with that is the gospel truth. The only thing that sometimes caused friction was women. And when you lot facial expression at this women problem, a lot of them used to convey themselves to him. Donate themselves! Though I believe that sometimes a human being should live able to say no.

Earlier on, you lot alluded to the state of war equally ground for separation. What particular province of affairs tin you lot betoken to inward the war?
The whole state of war itself. We were non together all the time; it was likewise dangerous. If it was close closeness, the state of war made us unopen similar this (showing 2 hands tightly held together). Very, real close. Although he was far away from us, nosotros were real close. We had a radio, the children used to verbalize to him every evening, every ix o’clock. He was sending messages to me almost every nighttime past times dispatch rider. He would write a letter. I would give the someone a reply.

His fears, his feelings…?
Very serious things. But I don’t desire somebody else to know close them. I recollect when nosotros were inward Ivory Coast. There was this debate inward French Republic close Quebec together with French Canadians together with something close someone who had information that was needed past times parties to the crisis together with they killed him. I don’t know how it happened but when I finished reading it I went together with burnt all the letters. When he knew that I burnt them, he was upset, but I am glad I did it
Those are things you lot could have got used to write your memoirs…
All the things I burnt are inward my head. At my historic menstruum I don’t forget anything. They come upwards out similar pictures inward my head. So, it’s non close that.
Let’s pray you lot write your book. I am longing to read it.
Maybe I would have got been gone past times then.

You hateful you lot are non going to write your book? You don’t have got to write it yourself. You have got your sons. They tin do that for you.
I said you lot are soundless real young. You volition read it, fifty-fifty when I am gone.
You don’t desire it launched before you lot go, but why?
For some personal reasons,
You met some other top ranking Nigerians who were leaders equally well. How good did you lot relate alongside them? And have got you lot met some of them of late?
I knew some of them but nosotros were non friends

Like who particularly?
Let me see. You know nosotros were colleagues. Our husbands worked together, but their ways were different from my own. I didn’t similar to live what they were. I don’t desire whatsoever someone to come upwards together with tell me close my hubby because it may kill your spirit. I also don’t desire to tell them close their husbands. They weren’t terribly educated. I am non terribly educated either, but I have got a different outlook. I recollect i instance when Emeka was governor. One twenty-four hr menstruum I got a message from Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi ordering me to attend a function. I ignored it together with didn’t go. I felt she could have got called me on the phone. I wasn’t a armed services officer? Some of them were carrying on equally if they were armed services officers too. She shouldn’t have got done it. I was sorry when her hubby was killed. She was a squeamish lady likewise inward her own. Others though were non equally nice, together with to that end, I used to maintain some distance from them.
Gowon’s wife…

have you lot ever met her?
I have got never met her. Gowon was non married before the crisis. You know he was a rank lower than my husband.
What would you lot say was the lowest betoken inward your human relationship alongside him?
It was inward Ivory Coast. It was the conspiracy that eventually led to my leaving. It is improve left for some other day.
From the way you lot have got been speaking of him, it is obvious you lot loved him together with you lot soundless dear him.
Yes, but if I dear him what tin I do. It’s non something you lot simply write on. It is deeper than simply writing close it.

The immature adult woman who is the married adult woman of the Ikemba now, Bianca, is she unopen to you?
No, non really. Though, nosotros have got met on some occasions similar when Emeka (my son) got married.
You are from the same area?
No, she is from Enugu state, I’m from Anambra.

How have got you lot been coping; I hateful running your life?
I am to a greater extent than or less retired now. I alive on pension from me, from my identify unit of measurement together with from my children.
SOURCE:http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/saturday-magazine/special-report/28490-my-life-with-ojukwu.html

My life alongside Ojukwu –Bianca
Story past times Alvan Ewuzie
She was without whatsoever iota of doubt, the closest someone to Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. In Apr 2010 Bianca, Ojukwu’s married adult woman of over 2 decades spoke close her human relationship alongside the national icon. Excerpts:

How long have got you lot been married to Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu?
We have got been into a human relationship since 1989 but nosotros got married formally on Nov 12, 1994.
We have got been together for over 20 years, because nosotros had been living together since 1989.

How old were you lot together with how old was he at the time?
Well, I was 22 together with he was inward his mid 50s
People considered you lot likewise immature for him at that time. How did you lot experience then?
It’s non your conventional relationship. Looking dorsum now, I certainly realise that I was real immature at that fourth dimension but it didn’t seem to thing , because nosotros had so much inward mutual together with nosotros had proficient communication. The gap was non at that spot inward our day-to-day interactions. People thought the human relationship was bizarre , because of the historic menstruum divergence but it’s only at nowadays when I facial expression back, at nowadays that I have got children of my ain that I realised that it was rather unusual.

Odumegwu Ojukwu together with Bianca`s 10-year-old daugther Chineme reads the Bible during the national inter-denominational funeral rites at Michael Opkara Square inward Enugu

You were so much inward dear at the fourth dimension that you lot didn’t notice whatsoever disparity inward your ages?
I don’t know whether I would separate it equally beingness inward love. I simply knew that the divergence tended to melt away when compared to the mutual grounds that nosotros had. We had a similar background together with nosotros had so much to verbalize about. We had mutual interests together with nosotros simply did a lot of things together. We went to watch plays at the theatre, nosotros went on vacations together with at that spot was simply no disparity inward our interaction. I didn’t experience it at the time.

How come upwards you’re feeling it now?
No, I don’t experience it now, because nosotros have got gotten used to each other having been together for so long. I ever told him I am similar the slice of furniture inward your house. We are likewise used to each other. I tin consummate his sentences together with he tin consummate mine. Really I think at the halt of the twenty-four hr menstruum that’s what is imperative inward every relationship. You must live able to communicate. He understood me fully together with he appreciated that mine has been a life of dedication to him. I know the travails he has been through together with I appreciate that a human being such equally him needs somebody to stair inward together with play the role of a wife, sis together with woman parent simultaneously together with give him peace of psyche inward his twenty-four hr menstruum to twenty-four hr menstruum life.

Would you lot say thus that you lot were psychologically prepared to live Ojukwu’s wife?
I come upwards from a political family. If that’s beingness psychologically prepared good I am non the i to say so. But I think I had to shoulder a lot of responsibilities beyond what somebody of my historic menstruum would reasonably live expected to go through. I had to acquire inward the process. I think I have got done good because it requires diplomacy together with the fact that sometimes you lot have got to acquire out of your peel to mediate inward conflicts that volition mostly arise around a human being of his stature. It’s been quite challenging but I give thank you lot God that I have got been able to navigate the terrain.

Bianca Ojukwu Ikemba, married adult woman of the Senate President Helen Mark, together with the First Lady Patience Goodluck Jonathan attend Ojukwu's funeral inward Abuja on Feb 27, 2012

Has it ever occurred to you lot that people never gave this union a chance, yet it has lasted this long. How does that brand you lot feel?
I experience blessed. I have got known friends inward to a greater extent than conventional marriages, who intermission up, remarry together with intermission upwards i time to a greater extent than inward this infinite of fourth dimension together with I am soundless here. I give thank you lot God for his grace because nobody gave this thing a run a endangerment of survival. In all honesty I was genuinely immature at that fourth dimension together with I did believe that I could grip it. Now when I facial expression dorsum I wonder how I did it. That was non a province of affairs your average 22-year-old could handle. Normally the disparity ought to brand the interests different. But the truth is that I didn’t miss those things the average 22-year old would want, similar going to parties, clubs together with the like. Those were non my interests.
Though people have got ever said that I am real old fashioned together with I didn’t have got those things that propel people of my age. I wanted a stable marriage. I wanted to alive alongside a human being that I have got things inward mutual alongside together with a human being that I could pass the relaxation of my life with. Having said that, the truth is that it requires a lot of sacrifice, commitment together with hard piece of work to live able to brand it work.

Source:http://www.nanngronline.com/section/general/niger-delta-indigenes-celebrate-odumegwu-ojukwu

'HOW SHAGARI GRANTED OJUKWU AMNESTY'

Source:http://www.nanngronline.com/section/general/niger-delta-indigenes-celebrate-odumegwu-ojukwu

'HOW SHAGARI GRANTED OJUKWU AMNESTY'

Kaye Whiteman
The Guardian, Sunday 27 Nov 2011 18.44 GMT

The expiry at the historic menstruum of 78 of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, onetime leader of the breakaway Republic of Biafra, removes a charismatic, larger-than-life figure from the Nigerian political scene. Although deeply controversial inward his lifetime, he volition live missed inward Nigeria far beyond his ain Igbo people. President Goodluck Jonathan's tribute spoke of Ojukwu's "immense dear of his people, justice, equity together with fairness which forced him into the leading role he played inward the Nigerian civil war".

In the long perspective of history, the failure of the Biafran secession, which lasted from May 1967 to Jan 1970, helped decisively to consolidate the unity of independent Nigeria. And if after his pardon together with homecoming to his Earth Ojukwu never made the political breakthrough he had sought, the myth of Biafra that he did so much to do soundless lingers, fifty-fifty spell at that spot is no prospect of recreating it.

Ojukwu, widely known equally Emeka, was born inward Zungeru, northern Nigeria. His manly someone parent was the carry millionaire Sir Louis Ojukwu. Schooled at King's college, Lagos, together with Epsom college, Surrey, Emeka studied history at Lincoln College, Oxford. Graduating inward 1955, he returned to piece of work inward the eastern Nigeria administrative service, together with 2 years afterwards joined the army, i of the first of all Nigerian graduates to do so. It was a surprising determination for i who had been known inward Oxford for his playboy lifestyle, but it reflected a serious commitment to Nigeria, together with fifty-fifty a sure farsightedness close the role the armed services mightiness come upwards to play inward politics.

He had 2 spells of officeholder grooming inward Great Britain (1958 together with 1962), together with also served inward the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel inward 1963, together with at the fourth dimension of Nigeria's first of all coup inward Jan 1966 was inward command of the 5th battalion inward Kano. He played his cards well, declaring loyalty to the novel armed services caput of state, Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, together with became governor of the Eastern region.

Thus history had cast him equally destiny's child. When the counter-coup came inward July 1966, together with the Igbo people, who had benefited from the first of all coup, were on the receiving halt of northern revenge attacks – most notably the killing of many senior officers, including Ironsi himself – he was inward a seat to render the leadership for which he had sure enough been groomed, refusing to pick out the potency of the federal authorities inward Lagos.

As the serial of massacres of easterners, especially Igbos, grew inward the north, the force per unit of measurement area from his people made secession increasingly likely. It was strongly believed inward Lagos that Ojukwu's ain sizeable ego was at nowadays a factor, together with that some other leader mightiness have got managed to avoid secession.

After the failure of peace talks inward Aburi, Ghana, inward Jan 1967, inward which the wily Ojukwu had outmanoeuvred the to a greater extent than straightforward federal leader General Yakubu Gowon, the prospect of a total breakaway loomed closer, especially since an Aburi-style confederation had been rejected inward Lagos. Ojukwu, claiming to live doubtful, was swept along the tide of his ain populace opinion, together with secession became inevitable.

The historical motives of this menstruum volition proceed to live argued passionately, since they were at the center of the illustration for Biafra. Gowon declared the creation of 12 states on 27 May 1967, including notably splitting the Eastern part into three, thus separating minority ethnic groups from Igbos. It was said that the creation of the states was a pre-emptive move, since secession was inward whatsoever illustration planned. And i time the "independent together with sovereign state" of Biafra was proclaimed on 29 May, it was only a thing of fourth dimension before fighting began a few weeks later.

After a bold motility on the Mid-west part inward August, a force towards Lagos failed, together with federal troops recaptured the Mid-west inward September. The storey of the state of war together with the famine together with illness that went alongside it, causing betwixt 1m together with 3m deaths, was so i of the tiresome encirclement of Biafra. This progressively confined the Igbos to their ain heartland, but they soundless managed a noble together with courageous resistance, sustained past times Ojukwu's charismatic together with authoritarian leadership.

If at the showtime at that spot was a existent fright of farther massacres, the policy of "no victors, no vanquished" pursued past times Gowon meant that after the eventual give upwards inward Jan 1970, reconciliation largely worked. Visiting the onetime rebel areas shortly after the halt of the war, I was told: "We were forced out of the federation, at nowadays we've been forced dorsum into it."

Ojukwu had left for exile inward Republic of Cote d'Ivoire on the in conclusion flying out of Biafra's improvised airdrome at Uli, together with it was to a greater extent than than 12 years before he was finally pardoned past times civilian president Shehu Shagari, together with allowed to brand a triumphant homecoming inward 1982. It was so that he was given the championship of Ikemba past times the people of his father's habitation town of Nnewi.

He fifty-fifty joined the ruling party, which was seeking to gain Igbo support. But his ventures into politics did non work, together with he was detained alongside many other politicians for a few months after the coup of 31 Dec 1983.

He continued inward politics when activity revived briefly inward the early on 1990s, together with after the total homecoming to civil dominion inward 1999 helped shape the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), for which he ran equally presidential candidate inward 2003 together with 2007, both notably fraudulent elections. In this menstruum he often gave interviews inward which he retained his old political potency together with panache, although latterly he was increasingly unwell, suffering a stroke early on this year.

He had a gift for oratory – his collected speeches were edited past times his great admirer the author Frederick Forsyth, together with published alongside the uncomplicated championship Biafra (1969); Forsyth also wrote a biography,Emeka (1982, revised 1991). The onetime editor of the magazine West Africa, David Williams, no friend of Biafra, used to say that inward other circumstances he could watch Ojukwu's vogue together with gravitas only inward identify at a Commonwealth leaders' conference.

In 1994 he married his 3rd wife, Bianca Onoh, missy of a senior politician, together with onetime Most Beautiful Girl inward Nigeria inward 1988. He is survived past times her together with several children.

• Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, political leader together with solder, born 4 Nov 1933; died 26 Nov 2011

Emeka Ojukwu

Emeka Ojukwu, leader of breakaway Biafra, died on Nov 26th, aged 78

information technology WAS after Nigeria's first of all armed services coup, inward Jan 1966, that Emeka Ojukwu came to powerfulness equally governor of the country's predominantly-Ibo Eastern Region. Though he was himself an Ibo together with a lieutenant-colonel inward the army, he had non been involved inward this Ibo-led plot, nor, less surprisingly, did he pick out portion inward the 2nd coup, vi months later, which was led past times northerners. He was a federalist, which is to say he believed inward keeping Nigeria equally a federal state.

God had non designed it equally such, but the British had. As the colonial power, they had drawn a line circular the lands of the 3 main peoples together with 400 or so smaller linguistic groups, governed the mainly-Muslim northerners indirectly through traditional rulers together with the mainly-Christian residual directly, called them inward aggregate a nation and, inward 1960, given them independence. Two years earlier, a Nigerian author, Chinua Achebe, borrowing from Yeats, had pointed out that “things autumn apart”, inward a novel of that name. He had chop-chop been proved right.

Colonel Ojukwu, too, had foreseen the likelihood of bust-up. That was why he had non followed his manly someone parent into employment organisation but, after schoolhouse inward England together with so Oxford, had instead gone into the army, which was considered i of the country's sturdier institutions. It did indeed evidence to live a lasting source of power, but non of unity. The 2nd coup was followed past times the killing of at to the lowest degree 200 Ibo soldiers.

Pogroms of Ibos had already taken identify inward the North together with they at nowadays grew to a greater extent than severe, claiming the lives of tens of thousands of easterners, together with prompting over 1m of the luckier ones to caput for their part of origin. Colonel Ojukwu was shortly regretting the broadcast he had made earlier, inward which he had asked Ibos inward the North to homecoming habitation since the province of affairs was “under control”. Instead, the scene was laid for a state of war that was to in conclusion for 30 months together with claim the lives, it is said, of 1m people through fighting, hunger or disease. Some position the number much higher.

Secession was sure enough non what Colonel Ojukwu had inward psyche when he became governor of the East. Just v months before Biafra broke away he was arguing for a looser federation, together with he got the hope of it, fifty-fifty though his swain armed services governors shortly backtracked, realising they had been outwitted. The colonel was clever together with to a greater extent than educated than his counterparts, which may have got been why he would non defer to his antagonist, Lieut-Colonel Yakubu Gowon, the federal supreme commander; or perhaps he was simply proud together with obstinate, equally his critics had it.

Of course, the general, equally he shortly made himself, had a hard portion to play. He wanted to demo that Biafra was a serious country, self-reliant, efficient, able to pick out its identify equally the “first nation-state southward of the Sahara”. He also had to nowadays it equally a victim, a plucky piffling population of close 13m, reluctantly taking on a nifty alongside nearly 3 times equally many people together with all the resources of an established state. He had to live both bulldog together with underdog.

Soft of vocalism together with piteous of eye, he played the portion brilliantly. Pausing before he answered questions, drawing on a State Express 555 cigarette together with talking inward tones of measured reasonableness, he came across equally the thinking man's soldier. Despite his youth, his mass lent authority, his beard, grown equally a symbol of mourning for the massacred Ibos, lent gravitas. Yet he could also live arrogant together with authoritarian, laid upwards to adopt the real practices he affected to disdain—by, for instance, appointing his manly someone parent to chair 2 regional corporations.

The “police action” described past times Colonel Gowon at the outset turned into a bloody conflict together with a merciless siege. It was the first of all state of war to live brought past times television—and a skilful propaganda machine—into rich-country homes almost daily. It was thus conducted alongside pictures of starving children together with claims of genocide, equally good equally the hope of stone oil contracts, daring night-time airlifts, verbalize of jihad, accusations of collusion past times aid-workers together with weapons supplied (or withheld) competitively past times Britain, the Soviet Union together with others. It also involved conventional fighting together with at this the Biafrans, after a surprising irruption inward August 1967 to within 150km (nearly 100 miles) of the federal capital, proved inadequate. By year's halt the federal side had taken to a greater extent than than one-half of Biafra's territory.

The verdict

Historians say, fairly, that General Ojukwu should have got surrendered then. Biafra had no run a endangerment of victory, together with 2 years of famine together with fighting would have got been avoided. At the time, though, Biafra soundless seemed to offering the prospect of a Earth improve run than most others inward Africa, together with the fears of genocide were certainly good founded. In the event, General Gowon behaved impeccably, together with his troops exacted no revenge. General Ojukwu was pardoned inward 1982, returned to Nigeria from exile together with re-entered politics, albeit unsuccessfully.

For Africa it was a cautionary tale. The 1960s, inward which so many African countries gained independence, had started alongside a savage state of war of secession inward Congo. They ended alongside another. However, Biafra's failure to redraw colonial boundaries past times forcefulness position an halt to most farther attempts. If whatsoever modify is to live made now, it must live past times consent, equally inward Sudan. Perhaps General Ojukwu's stand upwards was needed to attain this.

sourcehttp://www.economist.com/node/21540986

Nigeria: Ojukwu's Secret Daughter Traced She Lives inward Kaduna

BY ABDULLAHI TASIU ABUBAKAR, ISMAIL MADASHIR, ISA SA'IDU IN ZARIA AND TONY ADIBE IN ENUGU, ix DECEMBER 2012
ANALYSIS
The hole-and-corner missy ex-Biafran leader left behind was brought upwards past times a prominent Muslim identify unit of measurement inward Kaduna. She lives amid the Northern elite together with detests whatsoever proposition that links her alongside the onetime warlord. This is the extraordinary storey of Ojukwu's mystery daughter.
Even inward expiry Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria's best known rebel leader, seems to have got retained his powerfulness to shock. The revelation that he had a hole-and-corner missy -- to whom he allocated, inward his will, i of his landed properties -- shocked fifty-fifty the other members of his family. But perhaps to a greater extent than shocking is the regain -- through Dominicus Trust investigation -- that the missy was genuinely brought upwards past times a prominent Northern Muslim equally his ain "child".
Tenny Hamman, equally Ojukwu called her, was raised inward Kaduna past times onetime Deputy Inspector General of Police Hamman Maiduguri equally his ain "daughter". Although she was formally named Aisha (the squall she used inward school), she is also called Tani (or Aunty Tani past times younger relatives). Tani is a traditional Hausa squall given to a woman someone born on Monday. Apparently the squall Tenny (or Tenni) that Ojukwu called her is the corrupted version of Tani.
Late Hamman Maiduguri was a top constabulary officeholder who spent a important portion of his life inward Kaduna. He hailed from the north-eastern urban center of Maiduguri, Borno State capital. He was appointed Northern Region's commissioner of constabulary after the expiry of the region's Premier Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto. He afterwards became the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) during the regime of General Yakubu Gowon, the human being who led the crushing of Ojukwu's Republic of Biafra.

Source:http://www.nanngronline.com/section/general/niger-delta-indigenes-celebrate-odumegwu-ojukwu

'HOW SHAGARI GRANTED OJUKWU AMNESTY'

The Cote d'Ivoire angle
Many Ivorians, too, voluntarily donated huge sums for the printing of thousands of T-shirts. Emma Ackah, an Ivorian presidency staff, was in-charge of that. Emeka had instructed what should live written on the shirts - uncomplicated Igbo words, 'ONYEIJE NNO.' What happened at the airdrome the twenty-four hr menstruum he arrived Nigeria is at nowadays history. The twenty-four hr menstruum his trunk arrives Nigeria volition tape yet some other history.
It is on this annotation that I say, alongside tears inward my eyes, to my General, mentor, adviser together with ogam: slumber good together with proficient nighttime - Chukwu nabata mkpuru obi gi. Ka emesia!
source:http://allafrica.com/stories/201212101558.html

Nigeria-Biafra Civil War
By Obi Nwakanma
Vanguard (Nigeria), Nov 09, 2003

EVERYONE knows that Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s father, Sir Louis Phillipe Odumegwu-Ojukwu was the wealthiest Nigerian of his generation: a multi-millionaire businessman, who had been chairman of UAC (West Africa), the Nigerian Stock Exchange, managing director of Shell-BP, had vast investment inward holding inward Lagos, Kano, Port-Harcourt, Enugu, Onistha together with other places together with owned controlling shares inward many of the top blue-chip corporations that soundless operate inward Nigeria today, Emeka Ojukwu could have got walked naturally to a life of ease together with indolence. In actual fact, past times today’s value, Sir Louis Ojukwu’s wealth would live inward the hit of close 10 billion inward proper sterling. But returning from Oxford University, where he had taken an Oxford M.A. inward Modern History from Lincoln College, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu turned his dorsum to all that, together with chose service- because it was his ain path to freedom, together with to greatness, on his ain terms.

His biographer, the English linguistic communication author Frederick Forsyth has given an employment organisation human relationship inward the book, Emeka, of how Ojukwu’s helpless manly someone parent had tried to lure his Oxford-educated boy to go a managing director inward his fellowship inward 1956, together with close how his restless boy chose instead to come inward the civil service. Seeing that his psyche was made, Sir Louis goes to his friend, the British governor-general, Sir James Robertson to essay together with convince Emeka Ojukwu. The governor-general offers Emeka whatsoever chore he wanted, including equally senior assistant secretarial assistant inward the governor-general’s office. Ojukwu rejects the offer, together with on his ain damage secures a rural posting to Udi, inward the Eastern regional civil service. We have got also come upwards to know how Ojukwu entered the Army equally the first of all Nigerian academy graduate to earn a commission. At a fourth dimension when the armed services was non likewise sexy, Ojukwu, apparently alongside an optic on history, sought a commission. His influential manly someone parent i time once to a greater extent than intervened to halt his son, using the governor-general i time once to a greater extent than to block Ojukwu’s commission. Failing to earn an officers commission, Ojukwu decides to go through the lowly route - he joins equally an other rank - a individual alongside a Master’s flat inward History from Oxford. This is hardly the deed of an arrogant, power-hungry person.

It is apparent that Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu was driven past times a sense of destiny. He was inward whatsoever case, a kid of destiny. For those who are wont to watch something magical together with symbolic inward coincidences, it is non for cipher that the 2 greatest leaders from amid the Igbo inward the 20th century - Nnamdi Azikiwe together with Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu - were born inward the same calendar month of November, inward the same piffling town, Zungeru. It was equally though Chukwu had forged a generational baton. Ojukwu’s political consciousness evolved real early, together with real quickly. As a ten-year old man child inward shape i at King’s College inward Lagos, inward 1943, he likewise had already joined the anti-colonial struggle. That year, he joined senior students similar Tony Enahoro together with Ovie Whiskey amid others, to phase an anti-war, anti-colonial protestation against the colonial administration, for which some of the students were reprimanded, others conscripted to fight, together with from which people similar Enahoro emerged into national limelight. Ojukwu was tried equally a juvenile inward the courts in
Lagos for his participation, together with 2 pictures essay that moment: when he lay sleeping at the docks, together with when his father, Sir Louis, carries him soundless sleepy, on his shoulder at the halt of proceedings. Ojukwu’s radicalised consciousness was mayhap sharpened when his manly someone parent sent him off to schoolhouse inward England, to Epsom College, shortly after the King’s incident. Black, stubborn, together with opinionated, Ojukwu mightiness have got earned himself some unsavory record. But he was a sportsman. He was brilliant. He was a rich boy. He was inevitable. In Oxford, Ojukwu joined the socialists, fifty-fifty though he rode close inward a Rolls Royce.

All these may have got figured when he chose to pick out a stand upwards against the genocide that followed the events of 1966. The British, afraid of the "red scare" together with the security of their investment inward post-colonial Africa already had his records. Let me so total upwards the event: Ojukwu equally battalion commander inward Kano resists Nzeogwu’s halt of the coup inward the North, an activity which leads to the collapse of the Ifeajuna-led coup of Jan 1966. Ojukwu equally governor inward Enugu resists the Gowon led coup of July 1966, insisting upon the side past times side officeholder inward rank, Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe, after the expiry of Ironsi, to pick out over the curtain of federal administration. His motility was to save the integrity together with dependent champaign of the Nigerian Army. Ojukwu’s resistance leads to the massacre of Easterners, especially the Igbo. Ojukwu’s attempts conciliation, going right upwards to Aburi, together with proposing the foundational thesis for the evolution of a modern Nigerian province nether clear federal principles. Gowon reneges upon force per unit of measurement area from his British minders together with their agents inward the Nigerian civil service, together with levies state of war against the East.

Ojukwu fights to protect the lives of his threatened people, together with inward the interval, creates what may mayhap have got been the most advanced, most progressive modern province inward Africa. The evidence of administrative efficiency was at that spot inward the way Ojukwu mobilized the civil together with bureaucratic structures of the East inward Biafra.

The evidence of technological advancement was there, inward the establishing of the first of all University of Technology inward Nigeria at Port-Harcourt, together with inward the state of war production that went on, inward spite of the minimal technology scientific discipline infrastructure that was available. The retired Supreme Court Judge, Paul Nwokedi has recounted the premise for which the Soviet Union refused to back upwards "a immature nation seeking self-determination" when equally Ojukwu’s envoy to Moscow he asked the same questions. Andre Gromyko’s, response to him was instructive: "Pauliya, Europe volition non allow you lot go…you have got non fought this state of war for i twelvemonth together with you’re already producing your ain rockets together with rocket fuel…" he said to Nwokedi inward 1968. That comment is a tribute to the visionary leadership of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

It is instructive, fifty-fifty ironic, that everything Ojukwu stood for has go the cornerstone inward the struggle for the emergence of truthful Nigerian state. The plank of the electrical flow minority agitation, led past times the belatedly Ken Saro-Wiwa, together with at nowadays past times the Ijaw for a to a greater extent than equitable identify within the federation was clearly articulated past times Ojukwu inward Aburi. The search for a "true federalism" was articulated past times Ojukwu inward Aburi. The struggle to save the hierarchy together with integrity of the Nigerian Army was the real ground of Ojukwu’s disagreement alongside Yakubu Gowon. Ojukwu has established inward clear damage the ground of his vision of a modern province inward the "Ahiara declaration."

OJUKWU`S FIRST SON

Higher moral authority
Nigeria has been unable to contradict Ojukwu. Not i of his detractors tin brand a claim to a higher moral authority, together with that, inward sum, is the legacy of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu. That he fought for the highest principles together with values, everything against which Nigeria turned its back: the preservation of human dignity, the integrity of political leadership, the survival of the Igbo together with their minority neighbours together with the rehabilitation of the Igbo within the polity. Ojukwu continues this struggle - the struggle for Igbo rehabilitation has go the struggle of his life - because equally he has argued, inward his comments to the National Reconciliation Committee (NARECOM), established past times the belatedly Sani Abacha "without justice, at that spot would live no reconciliation"

Ojukwu’s critic often betoken to his "self-demystification" on employment organisation human relationship of his involvement inward politics since his homecoming from exile inward 1982; especially his dabbling alongside the NPN. Ojukwu has himself argued that he does non desire to live a "myth" when at that spot is so much piece of work to live done. This is an deed of courage. His work, he has said, is to "heal" Nigeria from its demonic self. Others have got seen him inward the context of his pick of the title: "Eze-Igbo Gburugburu" arguing that Ojukwu wants to live King. But Ojukwu knows his people likewise good - that at that spot is no word for "King" inward Igbo. That the word "Eze" agency "leader" together with non King. He has inward his ain subtle way said that he reigns inward the pump together with non on the throne. And he is right inward taking the role - Eze Igbo gburugburu - it means, only i thing: the burden of truthful leadership - the leadership of the Assembly of Ndi Igbo. It did non commence today, it began alongside that song: "Ojukwu wu Eze Biafra…" - Ojukwu is the leader of Biafra. Destiny thrust that role upon him. He has borne it alongside great strength together with character. There is no incertitude that Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu has faltered, made mistakes, together with made some questionable choices inward his dialogue alongside his people - but he is non an infallible deity, although many people would prefer him to be; he is simply a great leader. The greatest leader of his people inward the other one-half of the 20th century. Buffeted, spat upon, exiled together with isolated, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu soundless reigns inward the pump of the people - the Igbo - to whom he has sacrificed his career, his wealth, together with fifty-fifty his health.

While some foreign ones strut close making claims to Igbo leadership, the Igbo know who their truthful leaders are. The evidence is there, whenever Ojukwu speaks, the truthful Igbo listens because they justice him to live true. Hopefully, when he has batted a century together with non out, together with shed his mortal body, the truthful Igbo shall heighten their vocalism inward that song:

Enyi o, enyi o o…

Enyi Biafra ala la -

Enyi Biafra ala a la …

Enyi Biafra ala la -

Chetakwanu

Odumegwu-Ojukwu…

Odumegwu-Ojukwu bu enyi Biafra

They shall wind that trunk inward the dark-green together with dark colours of the struggle, alongside its sign of the rising sun, together with identify it carefully into the vaults together with it shall it shall come inward into the pantheon of Igbo deities. That is what his chi prepared for Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu
source:http://emeagwali.com/biafra/nigeria-biafra-civil-war-34-years-later-3.html

Biafra/Nigeria (Genocide together with Crimes Against Humanity)

Agitation for secession amid the to a greater extent than than 250 ethnic groups inward Nigeria started almost at nowadays after the British-engineered amalgamation of Jan 1, 1914, which joined the southern together with northern protectorates to shape what is Nigeria. Vast distances, differences of history together with traditions, together with ethnological, racial, tribal, political, social, together with religious barriers all hampered the creation of a unified state. Nigeria became a federation of 3 regions based on ethnic groupings upon independence on Oct 1, 1960, but force per unit of measurement area for secession continued fifty-fifty after that development.

Biafran Armoured Vehicle equally displayed inward the National War Museum, Umuahia

In 1967 Biafra attempted to secede from the Nigerian federation. That sweat culminated inward a devastating, intense, together with prolonged civil war. Scholars differ inward their watch of its history together with consequences, but broad understanding exists on some pertinent issues.

The Nigerian Civil War, spanning a thirty-month period, from May 30, 1967, to Jan 12, 1970, was precipitated past times a combination of factors. Among the many reasons advanced are growing interethnic rivalry together with suspicion betwixt the 3 major ethnic groups (Hausa/Fulani inward the north, Yoruba inward the west, together with Igbo inward the south); agitations over alleged domination past times i ethnic grouping to the exclusion of the others; a controversial 1963 federal census; disputed postindependence elections inward 1964 together with volatile western regional elections inward 1965, inevitably resulting inward prolonged political crisis, anarchy, together with uncertainty. These events triggered the first of all armed services coup on Jan 15, 1966, past times predominantly immature Igbo regular army officers led past times Major Chukwuma "Kaduna" Nzeogwu, himself an Igbo from the eastern region.

Although prominent northern politicians such equally the prime number minister, Tafawa Balewa, together with the Sarduana of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, were killed inward the process, at that spot were no casualties inward the east, reinforcing the belief inward many quarters, especially inward the northern region, that the coup was ethnically motivated to attain domination past times the Igbo over other ethnic groups. Nzeogwu's coup failed, but a countercoup, led past times some other Igbo, Major General Johnson Umunakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi, abolished the federal construction together with introduced inward its stead a unitary scheme of government.

Although the novel authorities arrested the suspected plotters of the first of all coup, they were never tried. Consequently, on July 29, 1966, a "revenge coup" past times largely northern officers led to the killing of the Nigerian caput of state, Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi at Ibadan, spell he was making an official see to the western region. During this same menstruum several Igbo officers together with civilians were also killed inward the north, together with their properties looted or destroyed.

By Oct 1966 over 50 K Igbos had lost their lives, several thousands to a greater extent than were maimed, together with an estimated 2 1000000 Igbos fled from other parts of Nigeria dorsum to the east. In response, Lieutenant Colonel Chukumeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Eastern Military Governor stated, "The savage together with planned annihilation of officers of Eastern Nigeria root had cast serious incertitude equally to whether they could ever sincerely alive together equally members of a nation" (Ojiako, 1979, p. 48).

To trim the political tensions that had engulfed the country, representatives of all concerned parties attended a summit of armed services leaders at Aburi, Ghana, showtime Jan 4, 1967, together with agreed to a confederal scheme of government, but the understanding was never implemented. After several unsuccessful efforts to negotiate peace, Ojukwu unilaterally declared Biafra's independence from Nigeria on May 30, 1967, citing the Nigerian government's inability to protect the lives of easterners together with suggesting its culpability inward genocide. Biafra derived its squall from the Bight of Biafra together with comprised the East-Central, South-Eastern, together with Rivers states of Nigeria. Biafra's independence was recognized past times Gabon, Haiti, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, together with Zambia. The federal authorities of Nigeria responded to Biafra's statement of independence alongside its ain statement of war.

The Nigerian Civil War, fought almost only inward the southeastern portion of that country, resulted inward the expiry of millions of unarmed civilians together with massive devastation of property. As the conflict progressed, the living weather condition inward Biafra deteriorated. The Biafrans, fighting against a numerically together with materially superior force, were virtually encircled together with isolated. The Biafran armed forces made sporadic strategic incursions into federal territories, but express agency of back upwards oftentimes forced a retreat. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 combination of armed services operationsy land, air, together with seand an economical blockade against Biafra together with the devastation of its agricultural life past times the Nigerian federal authorities led to the starvation, mass death, together with displacement of Igbos.

For you lot I impoverish myself to purchase your protection Info For You DIM CHUKUEMEKA ODUMEGWU-OJUKWU: THE NIGERIAN-BIAFRAN ICONIC WARRIOR AND THE GIANT IKEMBA OF IGBOLAND

Map of Nigeria, including the East-Central, South-Eastern, together with Rivers states that comprised the onetime Biafra. [MARYLAND CARTOGRAPHICS]

The Nigerian authorities blockaded the part from the sea, thus preventing the shipment of critical items together with services to the east. Furthermore, the authorities recaptured the Rivers state, cutting off the stone oil revenue alongside which Biafra had expected to finance the war; suspended telephone, telegraph, together with postal services; together with cancelled all air flights to the region, except those cleared past times Lagos. The enforcement of a comprehensive blockade led to severe shortages of food, medicine, clothing, together with housing, precipitating heavy casualties amid Biafran civilians. About 3 1000000 Biafrans are believed to have got lost their lives, an estimated i 1000000 of them equally a resultant of severe malnutrition. More than 3 1000000 Igbos became internally displaced persons or refugees. For a diversity of reasons, including the national interests of most of its fellow member states, the international community, except for express humanitarian relief, left Biafrans to their fate.

Biafra alleged genocide, fueling international sympathy. Although a squad of observers found considerable evidence of famine together with expiry equally a resultant of the war, it uncovered no proof of genocide or the systematic devastation of property. Furthermore, although claims of starvation together with genocide secured armed services together with political back upwards from some members of the international community together with international organizations, they also helped to lengthen the war, thereby furthering the suffering

Two British businessmen held prisoner, along alongside Biafrans, after beingness beaten past times Nigerian federal troops during the civil state of war betwixt the key authorities together with the province of Biafra (1967970). [HULTON-DEUTSCH COLLECTION/CORBIS]

in Biafra. In Dec 1968 the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) estimated that 14 K people were dying each twenty-four hr menstruum inward Biafra. Many civilians who had already survived the state of war reportedly died of starvation because the federal authorities obstructed direct access to relief agencies together with ignored international force per unit of measurement area to allow mass relief operations entry into Biafra, accusing relief agencies of concealing arms shipments alongside supplies from their humanitarian flights.

It would appear that the implementation of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 together with its Protocol II Relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts, to which Nigeria is a party, was the exception rather than the rule. According to Additional Protocol II,

[All] persons who do non pick out a direct portion or who have got ceased to pick out portion inward hostilities, whether or non their liberty has been restricted, are entitled to observe for their person, laurels together with convictions together with religious practices. They shall inward all circumstances live treated humanely, without whatsoever adverse distinction.

The autumn of Owerri, i of Biafra's strongholds on Jan 6, 1970, signaled the collapse of the resistance, leading to the flying of its leader, Ojukwu, to the Ivory Coast. On Jan 12, 1970, the Biafran original of regular army staff, Major General Phillip Effiong, surrendered to the federal government. According to Effiong, "We are firm, nosotros are loyal Nigerian citizens together with pick out the potency of the Federal Military Government. We pick out the existing administrative together with political construction of the federation of Nigeria. The Republic of Biafra hereby ceases to exist" (Oko, 1998, p. 336).

The Nigerian caput of state, Colonel Yakubu Gowon, accepted Biafra's unconditional surrender, declaring that at that spot would live no victor together with no vanquished. Although the civil state of war resulted inward mass death, starvation, displacement, together with devastation of property, its principal objective was to convey dorsum the eastern province to the federation, non the devastation of the Igbos. In contrast to the policies of extinction underpinning the Holocaust together with Rwandan genocide, those of the Nigerian authorities did non telephone phone for the extermination of the Igbos, but instead sought to address the threat of secession.

Thus, after the war, the authorities developed a Reconciliation, Reconstruction, together with Rehabilitation programme to resettle those who had been displaced from their homes together with places of permanent residence; rehabilitate both troops together with civilians alike; reconstruct damaged infrastructure together with populace institutions; together with right economical together with social problemsoverty, preventable diseases, squalor, together with ignorance. Furthermore, the federal authorities promised to render food, shelter, together with medicines for the affected population; manus over powerfulness to a civilian authorities on Oct 1, 1975; reorganize the armed forces; consummate the establishment of the twelve states announced inward 1967; demeanor a national census; draft a novel constitution; together with take hold elections. Although some of these commitments were fulfilledew states were created, a novel constitution was implemented, the armed forces were scaled downwardly inward size, together with powerfulness was handed over to a civilian governmentigeria's subsequent history of corruption together with armed services coups has left many of its promises unfulfilled.

SEE ALSO Ethnic Groups; Geneva Conventions on the Protection of Victims of War; Minorities; Nationalism

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Adewale, Ademoyega (1981). Why We Struck. Ibadan, Nigeria: Evans Brothers Publishers.

Akinnola, Richard (2000). History of Coup d'Etat inward Nigeria. Lagos: Rich Konsult.

Alexander, Madiebo (1980). The Nigerian Revolution together with the Biafran War. Enugu, Nigeria: Fourth Dimensions Publishers.

De St. Jorre, John (1972). The Nigerian Civil War. London: Hodder & Stoughton.

Dudley, Billy (1973). Instability together with Political Order: Politics together with Crisis inward Nigeria. Ibadan, Nigeria: Ibadan University Press.

Ijalaye, David (1971). "Was Biafra at Any Time a State inward International Law?" American Journal of International Law 65:551.

Nayar, Kaladharan (1975). "Self-Determination Beyond the Colonial Context: Biafra inward Retrospect." International Law Journal 10:321, 324.

Njoku, H. M. (1987). A Tragedy Without Heroes: The Nigerian-Biafran War. Enugu, Nigeria: Fourth Dimensions Publishers.

Nwankwo, Arthur Agwunch, et al. (1970). Biafra: The Making of a Nation. New York: Praeger Publishers.

Obasanjo, Olusegun (1980). My Command: An Account of the Nigerian Civil War 19670. London: Heinemann Publications.

Ojikao, James O. (1979). 13 Years of Military Rule. Lagos: Daily Times of Nigeria.

Oko, Okechukwu (1998). "Partition or Perish: Restoring Social Equilibrium inward Niagara through Reconstruction." Indiana International together with Comparative Law Review 8:336.

Okpaku, Joseph, ed. (1972). Nigeria: Dilemma of Nationhood. New York: The Third Press.

Tamuno, Tekena (1970). "Separatist Agitations inward Nigeria since 1914." Journal of Modern Affairs Studies 8:563, 565.

Kolawole Olaniyan

- See to a greater extent than at: http://www.enotes.com/topics/biafra-nigeria#sthash.XbNpuxZD.dpuf

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