He was born on 4 November 1933, in Zungeru, Northern Nigeria, to Sir Louis Phillip Odumegwu Ojukwu easily one of Africa's wealthiest businessman of his days. Sir Ojukwu was successful in transportation and was on the boards of top companies, UAC (West Africa), Shell-BP and the Nigerian Stock Exchange, which he co-founded and was its first president.
The younger Ojukwu grew up, was educated at King's College Lagos, Epsom College, England, and the University of Oxford, was to prepare Emeka to carry on the family business since he refused to be a lawyer as would have pleased his father.
On his return to Nigeria, he served in the civil service for two years, joining the army as a recruit much to his father's scandal. He was the first university graduate in the Nigerian army, and his education and pedigree were not for the army then.
Disputes over the census in 1963, more contentions over the 1964 federal elections and further troubles over the Western Region election in 1965 resulted in the January 1966 coup, which Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu led.
Lt-Col. Ojukwu saw to the failure of the coup in Kano where he was commander. He was appointed Military Governor of the Eastern Region, under the military government of Maj-Gen Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi.
Massacres of Igbo families in Northern Nigeria began in May. The claims were that they were in retaliation for northern army officers and top politicians Sarduana of Sokoto and Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria's first Prime Minister, who were killed in the 1966coup.
Col. Yakubu Gowon became Head of State. Ojukwu rejected his leadership, Ironsi's whereabouts and Gowon's promotion above Brig. A. O. Ogundipe, the most senior officer, who was shipped off to Britain as High Commissioner.
Many moves, to resolve the conflict, notably the one in Aburi, Ghana, failed. In Aburi, Biafra wanted more powers for the regions, Nigeria agreed but later insisted on a stronger central government. On 30 May 1967, Ojukwu promulgated the Republic of Biafra, and Nigeria on July 6 declared war against Biafra. It lasted 30 months. The tragedies were particularly telling in Biafra where millions died of malnutrition and disease.
Ojukwu went on 12-year exile to Côte d'Ivoire. President Shehu Umaru Shagari pardoned him in 1982.
Current agitations about provisions of the 1999 Constitution that abnegate federalism are reminders that few lessons, if any, were learnt from the war and that Ojukwu lived ahead of his time.
Adieu, Ikemba.
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