IN starting this tribute, I have to quote the Middle East saying that, 'When you were born, you cried and the world laughed; live your life so that when you die, you willlaugh and the world will cry'. Again, in the words of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross 'Watching a painful death of a hero reminds us of a falling star from million lights in a sky that flares up for a brief moment only to disappear into the endless night forever'. This was what happened recently when the ex-Biafran warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the Ikemba of Nnewi died.However, since his contributions have been adequately captured in several documentations, they will speak for his bravery, rare intellect, charisma, courage, nationalism and unequivocal response to national issues. I think and believe that was why in an interview with the Vanguard newspaper of Monday, July 25, 2005 p. 37 the ex-Biafran Warlord said and I quote 'I prefer to be continuously part of the fight for emancipation than staying behind to be revered and having chickens slaughtered in my honour'.In James Chapter 4, verse 14 the Holy Bible says, 'Whereas you know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life' It is even a vapour that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away'. The truth, however, is that we live to die, and die to live again. God, in His love, has not entirely condemned man. It is appointed to man once to die and after that, the judgement. There is a life after this one and we can only get there by dying. We die to live again. So, Ojukwu will live again, let us not weep for him. This is because death, is indeed, the ultimate appointment everybody would be ready for.DimOjukwu was born on 13, November, 1933, at Zungeru, Niger State. His father, Sir Louis Phillip Ojukwu, a transporter was the first publicly-acclaimed Nigerian multi-millionaire. His father ensured that his son had the very best of education that could be got. To this end therefore, he attended St. Patrick's Primary School, CMS Grammar School and King's College, all in Lagos. He later proceeded to England where he attended Epsom College and Lincoln College, University of Oxford. The mercantilist elder Ojukwu drew his son to the business and eventually released control of the business to him. The plan of the elder Ojukwu was that his son would read law, but when he got to Britain, he changed from law to history and obtained a first class at the bachelor's degree and later read a master's degree. On his return, he joined the Eastern Nigeria Civil Service as an Assistant Divisional Officer (ADO).One day, the elder Ojukwu received an urgent call from Sir MacPherson, the colonial Governor-General. On arrival, Sir Ojukwu was shown the application letter written and signed by his son to enlist into the Nigerian army. At that time, the army was considered a dumping ground for those thought to be never-do-wells. However, Emeka was more than qualified for the profession he sought for, being the first application letter (1957) that the Nigerian Army would receive from a graduate of the university. For Emeka, it was a mild frustration because the army refused to take cognisance of his degrees saying that he must start from the lowest rank as a recruit. He continued and later got commissioned as an officer of the Nigerian army.Apart from routine postings to the Royal West Africa Frontier Training School, Ghana (1958 ' 1961) as an instructor, and as Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quarter Master-General, Brigade Headquarters, Kaduna (1961), Emeka's life in the army was uneventful, until 1963, when things took a dramatic turn. Consequently, he was promoted to the rank of a Lieutenant Colonel in 1963, and made commander of the 5th Battalion, Kano in 1964.However, in January 1966, as a result of months of tension and violence across the country, five young majors, popularly thought to have been led by Chukwuma Patrick Kaduna Nzeogwu (Ojukwu insisted Emmanuel Ifeajuna was the leader of the group), staged the first military coup in Nigeria on 15 January, 1966, which effectively brought down the post-independence civilian government led by Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. Regrettably, though many Nigerians that were thought to have helped in holding Nigeria back from achieving her full potentialities were killed in the attempted putsch, power never transferred to the coupists.Events later proved that the exclusion of Emeka Ojukwu was a tactical error. In a matter of days, Ojukwu who insisted on the sanctity of army hierarchy, helped to see to the end of the attempted coup and transfer of power to Major General Johnson Thomas Umunakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi. In appreciation of the role played by Ojukwu, Aguiyi-Ironsi's junta appointed him Governor of Eastern Nigeria.Barely six months after the 15 January coup attempt, a northern officers mutiny on 29 July 1966, leading to the death of Aguiyi-Ironsi and Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, the governor of the Western region. As a result, there was the elimination of Igbo officers and civilians in the North, including the West. Most of those who could escape the pogrom abandoned all they had in the North and fled back home to the East. Painfully, Ojukwu received them. Another painful thing to him was the elevation of Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon as Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. Emeka, in his usual characteristic ways refused to accept the leadership of Gowon over and above other senior military officers from other parts of the country. He also demanded an official explanation (even though he knew) of what happened to Gen. Ironsi.Claiming the superior mandate of the people, Ojukwu on 30 May, 1967, proclaimed Eastern Nigeria, the Republic of Biafran. Gowon dismissed him and ordered for police action, to quell the rebellion. Many of those who worked with Ojukwu on the Biafran agenda said that the rebel republic should have surrendered long before January 15, 1970. Ojukwu who later admitted that throughout the three years of the civil war, he was out-gunned by at least one to 10,000 would not hear of it. However, on 10 January, 1970 with federal troops only about 24 hours away from his last stronghold, Ojukwu boarded a plane and left for Cote d'Ivoire after informing his compatriots that he was going 'in search of peace'. Chief Sam Mbakwe (of blessed memory), a close friend and participant in the Biafran agenda, who wore a nominal rank of colonel of the Biafran army said later, 'We knew it was a gimmick'. Phillip Effiong, General of the Biafran army, to whom Ojukwu relinquished command, reacting to Ojukwu's insistence that there was no justification for capitulation at that point said 'The truth was that the man was escaping. He took his relations, vast luggage. Is that how you go to search for peace''For the next 12 years, Ojukwu remained in Coite d'Ivoire, engaging in business for financial gains. In 1982, he was granted state pardon by the Alhaji Shehu Shagari-led civilian government. In 1989, Ojukwu said 'There is a general conspiracy to cast me as an Igbo leader and possibly an African leader. My passion is to be a black leader'. In 1998, he said 'I am the champion of the Igbo. I am a Pope among the Igbo. I rule in their hearts.'Death is an inevitable omen. It will come when it will come according to William Shakespeare on the eve of his death that was, 16th February 1616. A philosopher said that death is a whip waiting for everybody by the roadside, but the date is not known by anybody save God because He giveth and He taketh.Adieu, the ex-Biafran Warlord, the Gburuburu one, the Ikemba of Nnewi, the fearless and dogged fighter.Soeze can be reached via charlessoeze@yahoo.ca
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