Nov 27, 2011 the death at the age of 78 of chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu, former leader of the breakaway republic of biafra, removes a charismatic, largerthanlife figure from the nigerian political scene. Chukwuemeka odumegwuojukwu obituary world news the. After reading it you will understand the kind of circumstances a young 33 yr old had to face in the hand of a coward like gowon. A tribute to dim emeka odumegwu ojukwu a great and proud warrior by femi fanikayode march 5, 2012 tech admin columns, news 1 dim emeka odumegwu ojukwu was not an ordinary person or one of the run of the mill leaders that. Garba occured long after i had met and interviewed the former biafran leader, chief emeka odumegwu ojukwu, who was already a colonel in the nigerian army when gowon was. If men ever were, if men are and if men ever shall be. Ojukwu, chukwuemeka odumegwu 19332011 worldcat identities. Remi oyeyemi during my active days in journalism, i never had the chance to interview the former head of state, general yakubu gowon. Emeka is an abbreviation of the igbo name chukwuemeka meaning god has done so. Aug 16, 2019 he goes further to question fredrick forsyths declaration in his book emeka,that until he forsyth met ojukwu, he never knew of an african who had charisma. It is a biography of dim chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu written by a foreigner.
Sir louis odumegwu ojukwu, obe, 1908 september 1966 was a nigerian business tycoon from the ojukwu family of nwakanwa quarters obiuno umudim nnewi. Emeka odimegwu ojukwu eze igbo gburugburu facebook. Chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu, dispassionately insightful in some parts and forcefully eloquent in others. Chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu, to use his full name, proclaimed the shortlived republic of. Emeka ojukwu jnr, son of the late igbo leader, chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu, has urged president muhammadu buhari to be magnanimous in victory and appoint igbos in strategic positions during his.
Odumegwu ojukwu, in full chief chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu, born november 4, 1933, zungeru, nigeriadied november 26, 2011, london, england, nigerian military leader and politician, who was head of the secessionist state of biafra during the nigerian civil war. Dim emeka odumegwu ojukwu was not an ordinary person or one of the run of the mill leaders that we often eulogise after death in nigeria. Now that he has been called home to his maker, he will have a chance to implement these fateful words of his. Emeka a biography by frederick forsyth about his friend colonel chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu, head of the state of biafra, a republic that seceded from. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. In 1967, following two coups and turmoil which led to about a million igbos returning to the southeast of nigeria, the republic of biafra seceded with 33yearold military officer emeka odumegwu ojukwu at the helm. Because i am involved by chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu book. Emeka ojukwu unfulfilled promise and lies of yakubu. But i have read the books mentioned above before meeting either of them. Chukwuemeka emeka odumegwu ojukwu was born on 4 november 1933 at zungeru in northern nigeria to sir louis odumegwu ojukwu, an igbo businessman from presentday nnewi, anambra state in southeastern nigeria. Odumegwu ojukwu general of the peoples army ojukwu, chukwuemeka odumegwu on. Chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu facts nigerianborn military leader chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu born 1933 headed the unsuccessful move by biafra to secede from nigeria. Garba occured long after i had met and interviewed the former biafran leader, chief emeka odumegwu ojukwu, who was already a colonel in the nigerian army when gowon was lt.
Chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu 4 november 1933 26 november 2011 was a nigerian military officer and politician who served as the military governor of the eastern region of nigeria in 1966 and the leader of the republic of biafra from 1967 to 1970. Many of his notes and speeches are collected in a volume titled biafra. Emeka odimegwu ojukwu eze igbo gburugburu, enugu, nigeria. Army, nigeria civil war, 19671970, officers, nigeria. He was the son of sir louis philippe odumegwu ojukwu, one of the most successful businessmen among the ibos, the largest ethnic group in nigeria. Odumegwu ojukwu news latest breaking stories and top.
Chukwuemeka odumegwuojukwu obituary world news the guardian. Chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu author of because i am involved. My life with ojukwu njideka odumegwuojukwu ojukwus first. Chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu is the author of because i am involved 3.
His son chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu was the leader of the secessionist state of biafra. The ojukwus have produced a family history that bucks the trend in at least one respect. The platforms for emeka odumegwu ojukwu s enterprise in exile were three companies sereci, phoenix africaine and one other. Colonel, at the time the crisis ensued after the coup of january 15, 1966, led by major kaduna nzeogwu. Ojukwu, widely known as emeka, was born in zungeru, northern nigeria. For a man born of a privileged background that had his life cut out for him and could have spent his life lapping up the luxury arising from his birth, odumegwu ojukwu, born on april 4, 1933 at zungeru, niger state, chose in early life to chart a different path for himself. Graduating in 1955, he returned to work in the eastern nigeria.
General chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu died last weekend. Chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu was born in 1933 in zungeru, a community in the northern part of nigeria, which was then a colony of britain. The biography of late general chukwuemeka odumegwuojukwu. Emeka ojukwu s unfulfilled promise and the lies of yakubu gowon by remi oyeyemi during my active days in journalism, i never had the chance to interview the former head of state, general. Emeka odumegwuojukwu author of because i am involved. He was married to bianca odinaka onoh, njideka and stella onyeador. Dec 16, 2007 although igbo by parentage his father was the millionaire businessman sir louis odumegwu ojukwu, emeka odumegwuojukwu was born in zungeru in the north and attended nigerias most prestigious school kings college, before later graduating with a degree in history from lincoln college, oxford university where he joined the communist party. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. He strongly and publicly supported the cause of biafra in the nigerian civil war, and covered the period as a war correspondent in biafra. I had read and heard so much about him throughout my youth and in various history books including the bestseller written by fredrick. The man who understood the power of that image was an oxfordeducated nigerian soldier, emeka ojukwu. Biancas stepchildren and the ojukwu legacy the guardian.
He had a fifteenyear association with the igbo leader, chukwuemeka ojukwu. Because i am involved by chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu. With supply lines cut, millions of biafrans slowly starved to death as the civil war ended in 1970. I dont need will to take over my fathers house ojukwu. It is a testament of ojukwu s political philosophy and insight into the nigerian problem. He is a rare gem, the unconquered spirit of the igbo personified. Here is a young man who at 33 had the fate of a nation thrust onto him, and he did not disappoint. The second, but apparently favored son of west africas wealthiest man in his time sir louis phillipe odumegwu ojukwu, emeka ojukwu started school at the cms grammar school at ten in 1943. Chukwuemeka odumegwuojukwu was born on november 4, 1933 at zungeru in northern nigeria to sir louis phillippe odumegwu ojukwu, a businessman from nnewi in southeastern nigeria. Because i am involved paperback january 1, 1989 by chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu author visit amazons chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu page. His father was the transport millionaire sir louis ojukwu. For ojukwu, i wished i were born igbo by femi fanikayode.
Dim chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu was born in the northern part of nigeria. Dec 02, 2011 in a tribute to mrs njideka ojukwu and mother to the former anambra state commissioner for special duties and transport, mr. Emeka ojukwu, ikemba nnewi, a legend in his lifetime lives in history and posterity. Chukwuemeka emeka odumegwu ojukwu was born on 4 november 1933 at zungeru in northern nigeria to sir louis odumegwu ojukwu, an igbo businessman from nnewi, anambra state in southeastern nigeria. Ojukwus reincarnation the guardian nigeria news nigeria.
Emeka odumuegwu ojukwus unfulfilled promise and the. Ezeigbo, was married to bianka odinaka odumegwu ojukwu. His death brings to a certain climax the drama of a true, modern nigerian epic. Before he was ten years old, he was enrolled at nearby kings college as the youngest pupil in the institutions history. And i am not really sure i would want to interview him at this point. For three years, ojukwu fought to keep biafra from being defeated. The tales of emeka can never be exhausted through the pens of men lest they fade in the lines of history. The book examines former soldiers from both sides return to civilian life, and how their. Emeka ojukwu s unfulfilled promise and the lies of yakubu gowon by remi oyeyemi february 8, 2020 admin 36 views 0 comments three things cannot be long hidden. Olusegun obasanjo was right this time in describing ojukwu. Odumegwu ojukwu, nigerian military leader and politician, who was head of the secessionist state of biafra during the nigerian civil war. Emeka ojukwu, as a name, is a nomenclature for a political epoch not just in. Late military leader chief odumegwu ojukwu headed the unsuccessful move by biafra to secede from nigeria that ended exactly 46 years ago on january 15, 1970. My life with ojukwu njideka odumegwuojukwu ojukwu s first wife by bukkytroni.
Emeka a biography by frederick forsyth about his friend colonel chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu, head of the state of biafra, a republic that seceded from nigeria and was briefly independent. General chukwuemeka odumegwuojukwu is a quintessential igbo man. This book goes a long way in explaining what ojukwus thinking is on nigeria, nigerians and even biafra. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu was born on 4 november 1933 at zungeru1 in northern nigeria to sir louis phillippe odumegwu ojukwu, a businessman from nnewi in southeastern nigeria.
The peoples hero, emeka odumegwu ojukwu harold ufondu on. Ojukwu died in 1966, just a year before the nigerian civil war. The peoples hero, emeka odumegwu ojukwu book, 1998. A tribute to dim emeka odumegwu ojukwu a great and proud. My indifference to ojukwu and his generation of leaders changed when i started reading this collectiona work i highly recommend. During my active days in journalism, i never had the chance to interview the former head of state, general yakubu gowon. Ojukwu was the son of a successful igbo businessman.
He was active as a politician from 1983 to 2011, when he died aged 78. Emeka ojukwu, as a name, is a nomenclature for a political epoch not just in nigeria nor africa, but in the whole world. After graduating from the university of oxford in 1955, he returned to nigeria to serve as an administrative. Emeka is an abbreviation of the igbo name chukwuemeka meaning god has done so much. His place in history is assured and will supplant a billion footnotes.
Nov 26, 2011 chukwuemeka emeka odumegwu ojukwu was born on 4 november 1933 at zungeru in northern nigeria to sir louis odumegwu ojukwu, a businessman from nnewi, anambra state in southeastern nigeria. Schooled at kings college, lagos, and epsom college, surrey, emeka studied history at lincoln college, oxford. Chukwuemeka emeka odumegwu ojukwu 4 november 1933 26 november 2011 was a nigerian military officer and politician who served as the military governor of the eastern region of nigeria in 1966 and the leader of the breakaway republic of biafra from 1967 to 1970. Like him or hate him, dim emeka odumegwu ojukwu would forever remain an enigma in the nigerian political horizon. Sep 26, 2017 the reasons are four a at aburi, ghana, where a last ditch attempt was made to save nigeria from disintegration ojukwu was a central figure b president muhammadu buhari talked about ojukwus. Chukwuemeka odumegwuojukwu revolutionary pursuit and. His biography of emeka was published in 1982 with the full cooperation of the subject. Ojukwu s mother was a petty trader in zaria adeniran. He explained that all the directors of otl were in full support of emeka ojukwu jr. The book contains a treasure of information useful for students of african history. I dont need will to take over my fathers house ojukwu jr.
Sir louis, who was considered the wealthiest person in nigeria at the time, was nigerias first recorded millionaire, and was the founder of ojukwu transport, ojukwu stores and ojukwu textiles. One easily forgets that this great nigerian was a career civil servant starting out as an administrative officer in the then eastern region and transferring to the nigerian army after only about one year. Frederick forsyth is a bestselling popular novelist. Chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu biography nigerianwiki. The day i think otherwise, the day i act otherwise, that day my people, without compromising the struggle, will find another person to express their aspirations.
Chukwuemeka emeka odumegwu ojukwu was born on 4 november 1933 at zungeru in northern nigeria to sir louis odumegwu ojukwu, a businessman from nnewi, anambra state in southeastern nigeria. Mohammed sees in that declaration either a sheer propaganda or an untenable judgment made by someone who has limited knowledge of africans. Chief debe sylvester odumegwu ojukwu, first son of the late head of state of the defunct republic of biafra, chief emeka odumegwu ojukwu, is dead. Throwback picture of late dim, odumegwu emeka ojukwu, his wife bianca ojukwu and their 3 children by uchendu onuoha four years after the passing away of dim, odumegwu emeka ojukwu, the peoples general and the late ezeigbo gburugburu, memories of his lifetime and death keep resounding. Remembering nigerias biafra war that many prefer to. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Odumegwu ojukwu, the leader of biafrathe breakaway nation that sparked a civil war in nigeria during late 60s was part of this creative and intellectual scene. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Remembering ojukwu, biancas dirge enters poetry books.
Dec 03, 2012 as the controversy over the will of the late ikemba nnewi, dim chukwuemeka odumegwu continues, his son, mr. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle. The biography of late general chukwuemeka odumegwuojukwu ikemba nnewi encyclopedia biography nigeria. Emeka odumegwuojukwu is the author of because i am involved 3. Oxfordeducated chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu joined the nigerian army, against his wealthy fathers wishes, hoping to play an integral role in the nations affairs once nigeria had gained.
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