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Let's get some facts straight.
1) Ojukwu did not mount the first offensive in the civil war.
2) The pogroms in the North where 40,000 Igbos, including women, pregnant women & children (these are only official figures as unofficial figures peg the deaths at over 150,000. Before
1) Ojukwu did not mount the first offensive in the civil war.
2) The pogroms in the North where 40,000 Igbos, including women, pregnant women & children (these are only official figures as unofficial figures peg the deaths at over 150,000. Before
you argue with this, take a cue from the recent #LekkitollgateMassacre & how the govt have do far said only 2 people died even though we know atleast more than 15 people died) were killed. This was the genesis of the agitation as the Fed govt kept promising to ensure the killings
stopped, but only served to fan the issue. Even in the face of this, Ojukwu still sought a peaceful resolution.
3) The accord reached at the Aburi peace convention set a pathway to a peaceful resolution of all rancour. It was agreed you by all parties including the Fed govt;
3) The accord reached at the Aburi peace convention set a pathway to a peaceful resolution of all rancour. It was agreed you by all parties including the Fed govt;
Only for Gowon to come back, consult with northern elders, & renege on the agreement.
4) It was at this point that Ojukwu declared the state of Biafra.
5) The Nigerian govt mounted a "police action", as they called it, against the secessionist state of Biafra; but it was....
4) It was at this point that Ojukwu declared the state of Biafra.
5) The Nigerian govt mounted a "police action", as they called it, against the secessionist state of Biafra; but it was....
in fact the Nigerian military who rolled in & started to constitute the most barbaric mayhem against the people.
6) Even in the face of all this, Ojukwu still sought dialogue; but the people of Biafra, having realised that the Nigerian govt had no plans of seeking any peaceful
6) Even in the face of all this, Ojukwu still sought dialogue; but the people of Biafra, having realised that the Nigerian govt had no plans of seeking any peaceful
resolution that would in any way favour the Igbos, they insisted that they wanted to fight back. They demanded that Ojukwu armed them "Ojukwu nye anyi egbe!" Even though Ojukwu had tried to make them understand that it was better to seek politics than war, owing to the fact that
Biafra was ill-prepared.
The people were having none of it. Enough was enough.
N.B I forgot to mention that Ojukwu was actually given an ultimatum by the people to declare the state of Biafra. He did not take a unilateral decision on this.
6) Following expiration of the
The people were having none of it. Enough was enough.
N.B I forgot to mention that Ojukwu was actually given an ultimatum by the people to declare the state of Biafra. He did not take a unilateral decision on this.
6) Following expiration of the
ultimatum given by the Ngr govt for the state of Biafra to be renounced, the Ngr govt mounted an all out, undisguised military invasion on Biafra. At this point, there was no going back. The counter-offensive began.
7) Ojukwu did not decide to flee. The council decided that he
7) Ojukwu did not decide to flee. The council decided that he
had to go. They were adamant on not letting the Ngr govt have a war trophy. It was agreed that Ojukwu must not be caught "a ma enwude Ojukwu n'aka".
8) Ojukwu's inheritance from his father, who was the richest man in West Africa at the time, was used to finance atleast 40-50%
8) Ojukwu's inheritance from his father, who was the richest man in West Africa at the time, was used to finance atleast 40-50%
of the war. He had enough to kick back & chill on a baby boy life. He did not need to go into exile to be able to chill. In fact, he personally took a huge loss on that war.
9) Ojukwu refused arms aid from France during the war because they insisted on drilling our oil for a
9) Ojukwu refused arms aid from France during the war because they insisted on drilling our oil for a
period of 20 years post war as part of the deal; and also because France did not agree to not supply Nigeria with arms while also supplying Biafra. A man on a selfish mission would not have refused these terms. In fact, his closest lieutenants at the time persuaded him to take
the deal cos it was clear at the time that Biafra was being outgunned, but he put the people's interest first.
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the man I learnt about from 1st hand witnesses & the most unbiased written accounts of the war was NOT A COWARD!!!!!
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the man I learnt about from 1st hand witnesses & the most unbiased written accounts of the war was NOT A COWARD!!!!!
