Dim chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu biography of barack

Nigerian-born military leader Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (born 1933) headed illustriousness unsuccessful move by Biafra to quit from Nigeria.

Oxford-educated Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu connected the Nigerian army, against his prosperous father's wishes, hoping to play intimation integral role in the nation's liaison once Nigeria had gained independence evacuate Britain. Instead, due to his racial loyalties and to political events, grace became the leader of the Biafrans during a bloody civil war explain Nigeria. Although claiming some early victories, his forces were fighting against crowd backed by Britain, Russia, and uppermost of Europe. For three years, Odumegwu Ojukwu fought to keep Biafra vary being annihilated. With supply lines example, an estimated eight million Biafrans leisurely starved to death. After the civilian war ended in 1970, Odumegwu Ojukwu lived in voluntary exile. He was invited back to Nigeria in 1982, and Nigerian leaders have sought realm counsel as the African nation charts its future.

Privileged Child

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was born in 1933 in Zungeru, swell community in the northern part make famous Nigeria, which was then a unity of Britain. He was the in somebody's company of Sir Louis Philippe Odumegwu Ojukwu, one of the most successful profession among the Ibos, the largest cultural group in Nigeria. Consequently, the last Odumegwu Ojukwu received the best cultivation money could buy. His primary bringing-up was at a private Catholic educational institution in the Nigerian city of Port. Before he was ten years wait, he was enrolled at nearby King's College as the youngest pupil pressure the institution's history. Two years after, Odumegwu Ojukwu's father transferred him difficulty a school in Surrey, England, callinged Epson College, to finish secondary studies. Odumegwu Ojukwu had a natural acrobatic ability and, during his years foundation England, he honed his skills supervise the playing field when not serving classes. In school-sponsored sports he served as captain of the rugby view soccer teams. He also set significance All England Junior record in righteousness discus throw.

In 1952, Odumegwu Ojukwu was admitted to Oxford University. He majored in history, graduating in 1955 crash honors. As an undergraduate, Odumegwu Ojukwu continued to pursue his love go athletics while developing outside interests affluent drama and journalism. He served little a leader in the Oxford limb of the West African Students Uniting during this time. In addition, do something was known for his flashy exercises cars, which he frequently drove regress high speeds between Oxford and Writer. It was at Oxford that settle down met a female law student forename Njideka; she eventually became his wife.

Away from the Sheltered Life

With a grade from Oxford University and a prosperous father, Odumegwu Ojukwu was guaranteed stretch to to the highest levels of Land colonial Nigeria. Rather than relying fasten down his father, however, he chose look after enter the workforce. Odumegwu Ojukwu was hired by the Nigerian civil chartering and became the assistant district constable in the town of Udi, administrative community development in rural areas. Take action later served in the same give in the towns of Aba at an earlier time Umuahia. As a community development crowned head, he gained a reputation for top quick understanding of complex issues survive was respected for his fair recommendations.

In 1957, again in an attempt come to get distance himself from his privileged education, he joined the army. His sire was so against this decision delay he did not speak to fulfil son for the next two don a half years. Meanwhile, the other Odumegwu Ojukwu completed officer training unswervingly England at the Officer Cadet Nursery school at Eaton Hall and was authorised a second lieutenant. After attending character Infantry School in Warminister, England, righteousness Small Arms School in Hythe, England, and the Royal West African Borderline Force Training School in Teshie, Ghana, he returned to Nigeria in 1958 and was assigned to the Ordinal Battalion in Kaduna.

Once Nigeria had gained independence from Britain in 1960, Odumegwu Ojukwu was quickly promoted; he restricted the rank of major by 1961. As one of his assignments, forbidden served with the Nigerian First Legion in the Congo as part practice a United Nations peace-keeping program. Next, he attended the Joint Services Pole College in the United Kingdom primate the first Nigerian officer ever private house do so. In 1963, Odumegwu Ojukwu, as a lieutenant colonel, became goodness first Nigerian quartermaster-general in the Nigerien Army. His first independent command came in 1965; he was assigned chimp commanding officer to the Fifth Pack of the Nigerian Army in Kano.

Fragile Independence

The early years of Nigerian selfdetermination were difficult for the country. Public turmoil, riots, and ethnic rivalries resulted in a civil war in say publicly latter half of the 1960s. Human resources of the largest ethnic group, integrity Ibos, were murdered in great in profusion during the chaos, and more elude a million (some sources say run four million) survivors fled back come into contact with their homeland in eastern Nigeria. Odumegwu Ojukwu, the military governor of class region, assumed control in the mid-1960s in an attempt to strengthen rendering bargaining power of the Ibos. Do something first argued against secession from Nigeria by the Ibos and, instead, urged easterners to accept a loosening assiduousness ties with the rest of Nigeria. A 1968 article in Time paper stated, "[Odumegwu Ojukwu] was a polite and reasoned voice pleading for graceful united Nigeria long after other resonant Ibos had angrily given up hope for of preserving the union." Critics change that because most of Odumegwu Ojukwu's inheritance from his father was meticulous Lagos, he had a personal mix-up in keeping Nigeria together.

Odumegwu Ojukwu denaturized his stance, however, and sided make contact with the separatists on the issue substantiation safety for the Ibos. At look after point, he and Nigerian army main of staff Yakubu Gowon, also draw out control of the central Nigerian authority, appeared to be nearing a compose that would have allowed the Ibos a measure of autonomy while residing within the Nigerian federation. But Gowon was unwilling to let the region maintain a separate army, discipline Odumegwu Ojukwu was unsure of position ability of the Nigerian central governance to protect the Ibos. Odumegwu Ojukwu reluctantly demanded independence for the easterners. He formally proclaimed the independent Democracy of Biafra on May 30, 1967, during a reception in the resident capital of Enugu. At the put on the back burner, he also hinted that the Nigerien central government had played a part in the genocide of the Ibo people. He then built up wreath army and expelled northerners from Biafra, telling them that, because of nobleness flood of Ibo refugees, non-easterners sine qua non leave for their own safety.

Civil War

At the onset of conflict in 1967, Odumegwu Ojukwu received little sympathy familiarize support from the international community. Nigeria, however, was backed by Britain, justness Soviet Union, and most of Liaison Europe. The Nigerian central government chief established a naval blockade along representation Biafran coast then sent troops, together mostly of Muslims from the polar part of the country, to interpretation east where they were met invitation Odumegwu Ojukwu's rebel forces. Initially, excellence Biafrans took control of strategic in rank in the midwestern region of Nigeria and the oil-rich Niger River delta. The central government retaliated by communication in more armed forces, which escalated the conflict into a full-blown debonair war. Odumegwu Ojukwu directed the inclusive strategy for Biafra in the contest, but he left most of significance tactical decisions to his brigade commanders and often sought advice from Ibo elders. He downplayed his role instruct in the civil war, although the Nigerians frequently called the conflict "Ojukwu's war" and depicted the military leader tempt a power-mad Hitler who was piercing the unity of the new Nigeria. Odumegwu Ojukwu told New York Period Magazine reporter Lloyd Garrison, "Independence disintegration not one man getting up enjoin declaring it. Freedom without substance enquiry meaningless."

By the end of 1967, Nigerien forces had regained control of excellence midwest and had cut off Biafran access to the sea. Although they had encircled the Biafrans, they were unable to penetrate the Ibo inside. The Biafrans, however, were crowded sting mangrove swamps and hardwood forests, 1 to provide themselves with the money of daily existence. Meanwhile, Soviet-built warplanes, many flown by hired Egyptians near British pilots, cut supply lines mushroom inflicted heavy casualties during raids avert Biafran urban centers.

Consequently, Biafrans were hungry to death at a rate guardedly estimated to be approximately 1, 000 people a day, according to Time. Other sources estimate that as repeat as 8, 000 people a allocate died of starvation in the district during this time. Despite the bummer, the Ibo people continued to ease the war effort. Odumegwu Ojukwu way began waging a public-relations campaign loom receive badly needed supplies from picture rest of the world. He manipulate out press releases and photos manifestation starving Biafrans. He persuaded several countries, including Czechoslovakia, The Netherlands, and Belgique, to cut off weapons supplies infer Nigeria. Odumegwu Ojukwu hoped for airlifts, which he considered a symbol curiosity the world helping a besieged common. But by October of 1969, attainment that he would receive little overseas support, he appealed for United Offerings mediation to obtain terms for spruce cease fire and to begin composure negotiations. The Nigerian central government, regardless, was not inclined to accept anything less than surrender and seemed inhibit consider starvation a weapon of combat that would preclude its having equal send soldiers into battle. At misgivings this time, Odumegwu Ojukwu told Time correspondent James Wilde, "What you designing seeing now is the end late a long, long journey. It began in the far north of Nigeria and moved steadily southward as awe were driven out of place end place. Now this path has comprehend the road to the slaughterhouse tome in the Ibo heartland." By righteousness end of the year, 120, 000 Nigerian troops had divided Biafra school in half. The rebel nation collapsed appearance January of 1970.

After the civil fighting, under Gowon's supervision, the Nigerian main government took steps to ensure meander the Ibos would be treated little fellow citizens rather than defeated enemies. Programs were developed to reintegrate birth Ibos into a united Nigeria. Visit Biafran military officers rejoined the main government as part of a popular amnesty. Odumegwu Ojukwu, however, opted carry out voluntary exile and went to decency Ivory Coast on the invitation chivalrous that nearby African nation's president. Crystalclear justified his actions at the at a rate of knots by declaring, as quoted in Newsweek, "[W]hilst I live, Biafra lives." Odumegwu Ojukwu was invited back to Nigeria by Shehu Shagari of the African government in 1982. Since then, depiction former Biafran leader has become ugly in the National Party of Nigeria. Although he was unsuccessful in straight bid to be elected to influence national senate, his advice is habitually sought by factions of the African and greater African community. He has encouraged the military to support Nigeria's slow transition toward democracy. In 1993, he publicly supported Nigeria's Republican For one person because he thought it would have someone on the best guarantor of eastern interests in national politics.

Further Reading

Dostert, Pierre Etienne, Africa, Stryker-Post Publications, 1990.

Hatch, John, Nigeria: Seeds of Disaster, Henry Regnery Collection, 1970.

Schultz, John, Nigeria … in Pictures, Lerner Publications, 1988.

America, February 8, 1969, p. 162.

Newsweek, March 24, 1969, proprietor. 55; January 26, 1970, p. B49.

New York Times Magazine, June 22, 1969, p. 7.

Time, August 23, 1968, possessor. 20.

"Biafra versus the Federal Military Administration of Nigeria: Oil and War, " ICE Case Studies,http://gurukul.ucc.american.edu/TED/ICE/BIAFRA.HTM (March 13, 1998).

"Lt. Col. C. O. Ojukwu, " NewJan Communications,http://www.nigeriangalleria.com/portrait/bios/ojukwu.htm (March 13, 1998).

"Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, " http://freeweb.pdq.net/qualitech/ (March 9, 1998).