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Dim Odimegwu Ojukwu is Dead-Thisday
26 Nov 2011
Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu
Former biafran leader and leader of the All Progressive Grand
Alliance (APGA) Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu is dead.
Thisday can confirm that he died late last night. He had been
sick for a while and was receiving treatment at a united Kingdom
(UK) hospital.More to follow . . .
Ojukwu was born in Zungeru, Northern Nigeria in 1933. His
father, Sir Louis Phillipe Odumegwu Ojukwu was a wealthy
businessman who made money from the transport industry. Ojukwu
was sent to the UK at the age of 13 to study, first at Epsom
College and later at Lincoln College, Oxford University where he
earned a Masters degree in History.
Upon his return in 1956, he joined the civil service in then
Eastern Nigeria. He would later leave the service to join the
military, where he was one of the few university graduates.
Ojukwu was appointed Military Governor of Eastern Nigeria by
Military Head of State, General Aguiyi Ironsi on January 17,
1966. By May of the same year, Nigeria was facing a serious
crisis. A planned pogrom in Northern Nigeria targeting and
killing South-easterners presented a problem. He made several
assurances to the South-easterners about their safety but the
crisis continued. In May 1967, he declared Eastern Nigeria a
Sovereign State named Biafra.
In July, 1967, then Head of State Yakubu Gowon declared war on
Biafra. A civil war ensued. The war raged on for another 30
months. An attempt at peace during a meeting at Aburi, Ghana did
not stop the war. In 1970, Ojukwu handed over power to his
deputy Major-General Phillip Effiong and left the country to
avoid assassination. He was granted political asylum in Cote
D'Ivoire by President Felix Houphöet-Biogny.
The civilian President of Shehu Shagari granted him an official
pardon and he returned in 1982 after 13 years in exile. Ojukwu
would later go into politics, forming the All Progressive Grand
Alliance (APGA). He was an active member until his death.
Th
This is the document referred to in the Witness
Statement on Oath of Clifford O. Kokogho as
“Exhibit
COK.2”
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