IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE COLOSSUS OF BIAFRA, IKEMBA DIM CHUKWUEMEKA ODUMEGWU OJUKWU (NOV 4TH 1933- NOV 26 2011)
On this very day we the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) wish to remember, as well as pay homage to the greatest and fearless Biafran legend cum leader who was born in this very month of November and incidentally died in the same month.
General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu was born on November 4, 1933 at Zungeru in northern niGERia. He was born to a business mogul from Nnewi in Anambra state, a man who happened to be one of the richest men in Nigeria.
He attended Kings College in Lagos before leaving for Epsom Boys' College in England at age 13. He left Epsom at 18 for Lincoln College, Oxford. At Oxford University, he obtained a bachelor's degree in modern history before returning to the zoo ( niGERia).
He joined the civil service in Eastern niGERia as an Administrative Officer at Udi, in present day Enugu State. Within a year of working at the colonial civil service, he resigned and joined the military as one of the first and few African university graduates to join the army. Owing to his educational background, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was put on a fast track which saw him becoming the Quartermaster General within a few years of joining the army.
He served in the United Nations peacekeeping force in the Congo under General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi, and was promoted to the rank of a lieutenant-colonel in 1964 and posted to Kano, where he was in charge of the 5th Battalion of the niGERian Army. Lt. Col. Odumegwu-Ojukwu was appointed Military Governor of Eastern Region On Monday, January 17, 1966 after the military under General Ironsi took over the leadership of the country following the failed attempt to topple the political class by a group of exhuberant young army officers .
By 29 May 1966, there was a pogrom in northern niGERia during which Biafrans otherwise called southeastern niGERians were targeted and killed. This presented problems for Odumegwu Ojukwu. He did everything in his power to prevent reprisal attack and even encouraged people to return home as assurances for their safety had been given by his supposed colleagues up north and out west. On 29 July 1966, a group of officers, including Majors Murtala Muhammed, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, and Martin Adamu, led the majority Northern soldiers in a mutiny that later developed into a "counter-coup". The coup failed in the South-Eastern part of niGERia where Ojukwu was the military Governor, due to the effort of the brigade commander and hesitation of northern officers stationed in the region (partly due to the mutiny leaders in the East being Northern whilst being surrounded by a large Eastern population).
The assasination of General Ironsi, the systematic murder of tens of thousands of Easterners domiciled in other parts of niGERia especially in the northern part in May and July 1966, also the failure of Yakubu Gowon to honour the Aburi Peace accord eventually led to Ojukwu declaring a sovereign state of Biafra under the Eastern niGERian Constituent Assembly and General Ojukwu's leadership.
HIS HEROIC ACHIEVEMENTS DURING AND AFTER THE WAR:
(1) Under his leadership the latent resourcefulness and ingenuity of the Black African was brought to the full attention of the watching world for the first time.
(2) the imagination he brought to the leadership of Biafra in a difficult war period using his remarkable leadership qualities which includes his oratory, his eloquence, his poise, his courage and aura.
(3) under his leadership various talents were exhibited, we had excellent Biafran Engineers and others who performed excellently well in their various field of knowledge/expertise.
(4) During the war, he did not draw any salaries, rather he deployed part of the wealth of his father to the Biafran cause. He ought to have flown his sick father abroad for treatment but refused to do so at a time when no other Biafran could afford such a luxury. And so Sir Odumegwu Ojukwu, the acclaimed patriarch and niGERia’s foremost billionaire was hospitalised at Nkalagu’s cement factory clinic where he died.
(5) When he returned from exile, the Ikemba did not shy away from any issue that affects the well being of his peoples of irrespective of their ethnic group notwithstanding that the despot #Muhammadu_Buhari_DETAINED him without trial.
(6) Owing to his charisma, oratorical prowess and deep philosophical and sound historical insight, Ojukwu was arguably one of Africa's most sought after conference speaker
(7) Emergence of Biafra led to the construction of a functioning airport, effective weaponry and functioning petroleum refineries. The British newspaper aptly described Ojukwu's Biafra as a manufacturing workshop as opposed to Yakubu Gowon's department shop for the dumping of foreign goods.
The respected Professor Eugene Arene had this to say about Ojukwu...."I can make the assertion here that if what the 'Biafran' Scientists had achieved in weaponry and general civilian goods manufactures (without any foreign technicians and inputs) and the tempo with which they did those things, had been copied by niGERia at the end of the Civil War in January 1970, when Gowon made his famous quote 'no victor, no vanquished", Nigeria might not now be where it is scientifically and technologically, still very dependent on foreign inputs (in raw materials and personnel) for virtually all its so-called scientific and technological advances." ~~ Professor Eugene Arene "The 'Biafran' Scientists (The Development of an African Indigenous Technology)" - January, 1996
Some persons believe that it was the fear of the catalytic effect a technologically advanced Biafra Republic will have on the global power equation that motivated erstwhile colonial master Britain, the USSR and the entire Arab world to take an active part in the war against Chukwurmeka Ojukwu's Biafra. Yet Biafra held on for 30 months during which time all the scripts in the act of genocide were acted out including bombing of clear civilian targets and downing of Red Cross and Oxfam relief chartered air planes. On January 9, 1970, General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu handed over power to his second in command, Chief of General Staff Major-General Philip Effiong, and left for Côte d'Ivoire, at the invitation of President Felix Houphöet-Biogny one of the progressive African leaders who with the widely respected Julius Nyerere had recognised Biafra on May 14, 1968.
Ojukwu wrote a book titled 'Because i was involved' and he used the occasion of the lunching of his book to demand the immediate release of Chief Gani Fawehinmi and other human rights advocates who were then being detained without trial by the Babangida dictatorship.
Ojukwu stands out as the only human figure who had courageously spoken out against the senseless slaughter of Christians by Islamic fundamentalists. At the height of the draconian military dictatorship, Ojukwu was quoted as saying: 'As a committed democrat, every single day under an un-elected government hurts me. The citizens of this country are mature enough to make their own choices, just as they have the right to make their own.
Now fellow Biafrans we are reminded that the terrorist in chief is still unlawfully detaining our leader Nnamdi Kanu just like he detained his predecessor Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. The legacy Ojukwu left behind must never be allowed to die because that is our gateway to securing a better future for ourselves and generation yet unborn.
Ojukwu as people with conscience all know fought a just war, including the monkeys and baboons that calls themselves niGERians but because of their insatiable quest and greed for our resources, they will never admit that fact. Of course you don't expect a goat to keep away from massive cassava staring at it in the face. ( they just cannot stay without crude oil and gas, Britain too) but we Biafrans are saying they have eaten enough, hence the owner wants it back.
We have sworn never to relent in these noble effort of ours despite the turbulent times we are faced with, and couple with the unjust incarceration of our leader Nnamdi Kanu by the terrorist in chief Buhari. The zoo cannot comprehend what is coming because it is said that "he who the gods want to kill they first make mad". We have come to take what belongs to us by every means possible and every current happenings point towards that fact.
Dear Ikemba Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, although your dream and vision for your people was not sustained, but we assure you it will never die.
We have joined our faith with yours by remembering vividly, standing by your words and also join you in regurgitating that "NO FORCE ON EARTH CAN STOP BIAFRA FROM COMING".
We pray that the soul of our late Ikemba Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu will find rest and only the speedy restoration of Biafra will give him peace wherever he is because it is certain that his spirit must be angry with the paedophile's action against his people.
Nwoke ukwu, Agu na eche Biafra, Ikemba 1 of Biafra, We say may your beautiful soul R.I.P.....Ise Isee Iseeeee
Written By Nwosu Chinwendu Silvia
Edited Ikechukwu Nwaorisa
By BIAFRA WRITERS
 |
| GENERAL CHUKWUEMEKA ODUMEGWU OJUKWU |
General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu was born on November 4, 1933 at Zungeru in northern niGERia. He was born to a business mogul from Nnewi in Anambra state, a man who happened to be one of the richest men in Nigeria.
He attended Kings College in Lagos before leaving for Epsom Boys' College in England at age 13. He left Epsom at 18 for Lincoln College, Oxford. At Oxford University, he obtained a bachelor's degree in modern history before returning to the zoo ( niGERia).
He joined the civil service in Eastern niGERia as an Administrative Officer at Udi, in present day Enugu State. Within a year of working at the colonial civil service, he resigned and joined the military as one of the first and few African university graduates to join the army. Owing to his educational background, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was put on a fast track which saw him becoming the Quartermaster General within a few years of joining the army.
By 29 May 1966, there was a pogrom in northern niGERia during which Biafrans otherwise called southeastern niGERians were targeted and killed. This presented problems for Odumegwu Ojukwu. He did everything in his power to prevent reprisal attack and even encouraged people to return home as assurances for their safety had been given by his supposed colleagues up north and out west. On 29 July 1966, a group of officers, including Majors Murtala Muhammed, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, and Martin Adamu, led the majority Northern soldiers in a mutiny that later developed into a "counter-coup". The coup failed in the South-Eastern part of niGERia where Ojukwu was the military Governor, due to the effort of the brigade commander and hesitation of northern officers stationed in the region (partly due to the mutiny leaders in the East being Northern whilst being surrounded by a large Eastern population).
The assasination of General Ironsi, the systematic murder of tens of thousands of Easterners domiciled in other parts of niGERia especially in the northern part in May and July 1966, also the failure of Yakubu Gowon to honour the Aburi Peace accord eventually led to Ojukwu declaring a sovereign state of Biafra under the Eastern niGERian Constituent Assembly and General Ojukwu's leadership.
HIS HEROIC ACHIEVEMENTS DURING AND AFTER THE WAR:
(1) Under his leadership the latent resourcefulness and ingenuity of the Black African was brought to the full attention of the watching world for the first time.
(2) the imagination he brought to the leadership of Biafra in a difficult war period using his remarkable leadership qualities which includes his oratory, his eloquence, his poise, his courage and aura.
(3) under his leadership various talents were exhibited, we had excellent Biafran Engineers and others who performed excellently well in their various field of knowledge/expertise.
(4) During the war, he did not draw any salaries, rather he deployed part of the wealth of his father to the Biafran cause. He ought to have flown his sick father abroad for treatment but refused to do so at a time when no other Biafran could afford such a luxury. And so Sir Odumegwu Ojukwu, the acclaimed patriarch and niGERia’s foremost billionaire was hospitalised at Nkalagu’s cement factory clinic where he died.
(5) When he returned from exile, the Ikemba did not shy away from any issue that affects the well being of his peoples of irrespective of their ethnic group notwithstanding that the despot #Muhammadu_Buhari_DETAINED him without trial.
(6) Owing to his charisma, oratorical prowess and deep philosophical and sound historical insight, Ojukwu was arguably one of Africa's most sought after conference speaker
(7) Emergence of Biafra led to the construction of a functioning airport, effective weaponry and functioning petroleum refineries. The British newspaper aptly described Ojukwu's Biafra as a manufacturing workshop as opposed to Yakubu Gowon's department shop for the dumping of foreign goods.
Some persons believe that it was the fear of the catalytic effect a technologically advanced Biafra Republic will have on the global power equation that motivated erstwhile colonial master Britain, the USSR and the entire Arab world to take an active part in the war against Chukwurmeka Ojukwu's Biafra. Yet Biafra held on for 30 months during which time all the scripts in the act of genocide were acted out including bombing of clear civilian targets and downing of Red Cross and Oxfam relief chartered air planes. On January 9, 1970, General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu handed over power to his second in command, Chief of General Staff Major-General Philip Effiong, and left for Côte d'Ivoire, at the invitation of President Felix Houphöet-Biogny one of the progressive African leaders who with the widely respected Julius Nyerere had recognised Biafra on May 14, 1968.
Ojukwu wrote a book titled 'Because i was involved' and he used the occasion of the lunching of his book to demand the immediate release of Chief Gani Fawehinmi and other human rights advocates who were then being detained without trial by the Babangida dictatorship.
Now fellow Biafrans we are reminded that the terrorist in chief is still unlawfully detaining our leader Nnamdi Kanu just like he detained his predecessor Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. The legacy Ojukwu left behind must never be allowed to die because that is our gateway to securing a better future for ourselves and generation yet unborn.
We have sworn never to relent in these noble effort of ours despite the turbulent times we are faced with, and couple with the unjust incarceration of our leader Nnamdi Kanu by the terrorist in chief Buhari. The zoo cannot comprehend what is coming because it is said that "he who the gods want to kill they first make mad". We have come to take what belongs to us by every means possible and every current happenings point towards that fact.
We have joined our faith with yours by remembering vividly, standing by your words and also join you in regurgitating that "NO FORCE ON EARTH CAN STOP BIAFRA FROM COMING".
We pray that the soul of our late Ikemba Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu will find rest and only the speedy restoration of Biafra will give him peace wherever he is because it is certain that his spirit must be angry with the paedophile's action against his people.
Nwoke ukwu, Agu na eche Biafra, Ikemba 1 of Biafra, We say may your beautiful soul R.I.P.....Ise Isee Iseeeee
Written By Nwosu Chinwendu Silvia
Edited Ikechukwu Nwaorisa
By BIAFRA WRITERS
I have wept and cried in silence, my heart filled with the weight of bitterness as these "ANIMALS" make us look like their matching ground...A day of reckoning shall come, and all those that stepped on us shall weep too....
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