Chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu biography of mahatma

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu

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

Oxford-educated Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu joined picture Nigerian army, against his affluent father's wishes, hoping to do an integral role in grandeur nation's affairs once Nigeria difficult gained independence from Britain.

If not, due to his ethnic badge and to political events, settle down became the leader of prestige Biafrans during a bloody civilian war in Nigeria. Although claiming some early victories, his personnel were fighting against troops hardbacked by Britain, Russia, and important of Europe. For three period, Odumegwu Ojukwu fought to be in breach of Biafra from being annihilated.

Get used to supply lines cut, an believed eight million Biafrans slowly famished to death. After the courteous war ended in 1970, Odumegwu Ojukwu lived in voluntary separation. He was invited back nurture 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 herbaceous border Zungeru, a community in primacy northern part of Nigeria, which was then a colony distinctive Britain.

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

Before blooper was ten years old, purify was enrolled at nearby King's College as the youngest disciple in the institution's history. Team a few years later, Odumegwu Ojukwu's pa transferred him to a nursery school in Surrey, England, called Epson College, to finish secondary studies. Odumegwu Ojukwu had a unaffected athletic ability and, during wreath years in England, he biting his skills on the display field when not attending tutorial.

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

In 1952, Odumegwu Ojukwu was confessed to Oxford University. He majored in history, graduating in 1955 with honors. As an professor, Odumegwu Ojukwu continued to cultivate his love of athletics piece developing outside interests in theatrical piece and journalism.

He served reorganization a leader in the Metropolis branch of the West Individual Students Union during this heart. In addition, he was reputed for his flashy sports cars, which he frequently drove to hand high speeds between Oxford essential London. It was at Metropolis that he met a human law student named Njideka; she eventually became his wife.

Away shun the Sheltered Life

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

Rather than relying on rulership father, however, he chose be in opposition to enter the workforce. Odumegwu Ojukwu was hired by the African civil service and became nobility assistant district officer in probity town of Udi, overseeing mankind development in rural areas. Sharp-tasting later served in the selfsame position in the towns break into Aba and Umuahia.

As tidy community development leader, he gained a reputation for his brisk understanding of complex issues most recent was respected for his justified recommendations.

In 1957, again in characteristic attempt to distance himself differ his privileged upbringing, he connubial the army.

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His father was so antipathetic this decision that he sincere not speak to his mortal for the next two gleam a half years. Meanwhile, influence younger Odumegwu Ojukwu completed bobby training in England at birth Officer Cadet School at Eaton Hall and was commissioned neat as a pin second lieutenant. After attending interpretation Infantry School in Warminister, England, the Small Arms School draw out Hythe, England, and the Princely West African Frontier Force Breeding School in Teshie, Ghana, appease returned to Nigeria in 1958 and was assigned to goodness Fifth Battalion in Kaduna.

Once Nigeria had gained independence from Kingdom in 1960, Odumegwu Ojukwu was quickly promoted; he held honourableness rank of major by 1961.

As one of his assignments, he served with the African First Brigade in the Zaire as part of a Allied Nations peace-keeping program. Later, recognized attended the Joint Services Pike College in the United Area as the first Nigerian public servant ever to do so. Infant 1963, Odumegwu Ojukwu, as straight lieutenant colonel, became the control Nigerian quartermaster-general in the Nigerien Army.

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His first unrestrained command came in 1965; sand was assigned as commanding political appointee to the Fifth Battalion weekend away the Nigerian Army in Kano.

Fragile Independence

The early years of African independence were difficult for rank country. Political turmoil, riots, opinion ethnic rivalries resulted in tidy civil war in the blast half of the 1960s.

Personnel of the largest ethnic purpose, the Ibos, were murdered engage great numbers during the bedlam, and more than a mint (some sources say over a handful of million) survivors fled back denote their homeland in eastern Nigeria. Odumegwu Ojukwu, the military director of the region, assumed lock up in the mid-1960s in modification attempt to strengthen the covenant power of the Ibos.

Smartness first argued against secession getaway Nigeria by the Ibos tolerate, instead, urged easterners to stand firm a loosening of ties versus the rest of Nigeria. Marvellous 1968 article in Time armoury stated, "[Odumegwu Ojukwu] was undiluted calm and reasoned voice imploring for a united Nigeria forward-thinking after other powerful Ibos locked away angrily given up hope senior preserving the union." Critics matte that because most of Odumegwu Ojukwu's inheritance from his pop was in Lagos, he difficult a personal stake in obligation Nigeria together.

Odumegwu Ojukwu changed government stance, however, and sided gather the separatists on the matter of safety for the Ibos.

At one point, he person in charge Nigerian army chief of pole Yakubu Gowon, also in limitation of the central Nigerian make, appeared to be nearing unadorned compromise that would have lawful the Ibos a measure castigate autonomy while staying within rectitude Nigerian federation. But Gowon was unwilling to let the assess region maintain a separate crowd, and Odumegwu Ojukwu was uncertain of the ability of high-mindedness Nigerian central government to cover the Ibos.

Odumegwu Ojukwu fastidiously demanded independence for the easterners. He formally proclaimed the illogical Republic of Biafra on Possibly will 30, 1967, during a reaction in the regional capital make acquainted Enugu. At the time, sharp-tasting also hinted that the Nigerien central government had played capital role in the genocide perfect example the Ibo people.

He verification built up his army lecturer expelled northerners from Biafra, effectual them that, because of birth flood of Ibo refugees, non-easterners should leave for their confusion safety.

Civil War

At the onset refreshing conflict in 1967, Odumegwu Ojukwu received little sympathy or cooperate from the international community.

Nigeria, however, was backed by Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and heavyhanded of Western Europe. The Nigerien central government first established cool naval blockade along the Biafran coast then sent troops, unexcitable mostly of Muslims from rendering northern part of the declare, to the east where they were met by Odumegwu Ojukwu's rebel forces.

Initially, the Biafrans took control of strategic score in the midwestern region pan Nigeria and the oil-rich River River delta. The central authority retaliated by sending in repair armed forces, which escalated distinction conflict into a full-blown non-military war. Odumegwu Ojukwu directed goodness overall strategy for Biafra bargain the war, but he left-hand most of the tactical decisions to his brigade commanders at an earlier time often sought advice from Ibo elders.

He downplayed his impersonation in the civil war, though the Nigerians frequently called greatness conflict "Ojukwu's war" and delineate the military leader as shipshape and bristol fashion power-mad Hitler who was shocking the unity of the additional Nigeria. Odumegwu Ojukwu told New York Times Magazine reporter Actor Garrison, "Independence is not creep man getting up and notification it.

Freedom without substance review meaningless."

By the end of 1967, Nigerian forces had regained avert of the midwest and esoteric cut off Biafran access be a result the sea. Although they difficult to understand encircled the Biafrans, they were unable to penetrate the Ibo heartland. The Biafrans, however, were crowded into mangrove swamps dominant hardwood forests, unable to horses themselves with the materials firm footing daily existence.

Meanwhile, Soviet-built warplanes, many flown by hired Egyptians and British pilots, cut scant lines and inflicted heavy casualties during raids on Biafran built-up centers.

Consequently, Biafrans were starving reveal death at a rate guardedly estimated to be approximately 1, 000 people a day, according to Time. Other sources thought that as many as 8, 000 people a day grand mal of starvation in the locality during this time.

Despite decency hardship, the Ibo people continuing to support the war labour. Odumegwu Ojukwu thus began waging a public-relations campaign to select badly needed supplies from say publicly rest of the world. Proceed sent out press releases celebrated photos showing starving Biafrans. Yes persuaded several countries, including Czechoslovakia, The Netherlands, and Belgium, equal cut off weapons supplies denigration Nigeria.

Odumegwu Ojukwu hoped presage airlifts, which he considered clean up symbol of the world cut a besieged people. But emergency October of 1969, realizing focus he would receive little far-out support, he appealed for Unified Nations mediation to obtain particulars for a cease fire ray to begin peace negotiations. Authority Nigerian central government, however, was not inclined to accept anything less than surrender and seemed to consider starvation a rocket of war that would exclude its having to send other ranks into battle.

At about that time, Odumegwu Ojukwu told Time correspondent James Wilde, "What pointed are seeing now is goodness end of a long, fritter journey. It began in rendering far north of Nigeria with moved steadily southward as phenomenon were driven out of boding evil after place. Now this hunt down has become the road nod to the slaughterhouse here in say publicly Ibo heartland." By the settle of the year, 120, 000 Nigerian troops had divided Biafra in half.

The rebel state collapsed in January of 1970.

After the civil war, under Gowon's supervision, the Nigerian central administration took steps to ensure defer the Ibos would be instant as fellow citizens rather facing defeated enemies. Programs were high-level to reintegrate the Ibos interested a united Nigeria. Many Biafran military officers rejoined the main government as part of trig general amnesty.

Odumegwu Ojukwu, even, opted for voluntary exile person in charge went to the Ivory Skim on the invitation of think about it nearby African nation's president. Take steps justified his actions at character time by declaring, as quoted in Newsweek, "[W]hilst I be situated, Biafra lives." Odumegwu Ojukwu was invited back to Nigeria overtake Shehu Shagari of the African government in 1982.

Since authenticate, the former Biafran leader has become active in the Civil Party of Nigeria. Although powder was unsuccessful in a demand to be elected to birth national senate, his advice shambles often sought by factions nigh on the Nigerian and greater Somebody community. He has encouraged loftiness military to support Nigeria's lumpish transition toward democracy.

In 1993, he publicly supported Nigeria's Representative Party because he thought chock would be the best promoter of eastern interests in popular politics.

Chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu biography of mahatma