Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu , 1933-, Nigerian general and secessionist. Of Igbo background, he joined (1957) the Nigerian army and rose to become (1966-67) military governor of E Nigeria. That region seceded (1967) from Nigeria as the Republic of Biafra , with Ojukwu as head of state. He held office during the bloody war (1967-70) between Biafra and Nigeria and then went into exile in Côte d'Ivoire upon Biafra's defeat. Pardoned, he returned to Nigeria in 1982 but was imprisoned for a time after the military coup in 1983. He was an unsuccessful candidate for president in 2003 and 2007.

Ojukwu, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu (b. 4 Nov. 1933). Leader of Biafra 1967–70 Born in Zungeru, he studied at Oxford (1952–5) and then joined the Nigerian army. He had reached the rank of lieutenant-colonel by 1966. He became military governor of his native Eastern Region after the coup of 15 January 1966, in which he did not participate, However, he refused to accept Gowon's leadership after the second coup of 1966, accusing the new leadership of suppressing the Ibo people. He declared his territory independent, which led to the bloody Biafran War (1967–70). His forces were defeated, however, and on 11 January 1970 he sought political asylum in the Ivory Coast. He returned after a pardon in 1982, though he was largely unsuccessful in his bid to resume a political career. Imprisoned after the 1983 coup, he was released in 1984 and retired.