Ojukwu: Because He Was Involved

By Sam Onimisi
A phenomenon is so called because of a uniqueness that is rare and for which there are abundant contrasts. In every facet of human values, he exhibited qualities which are beyond the ordinary even though, he remained with his human foibles still. He stood out as a shinning star in crisis situations and when overwhelmed, he knew how to stoop to conquer or run away in order to be alive to fight again. He was something of all things to all men. He was at the same time a rebel leader, a warrior, a patriot and a realist. He knew and accepted and loved the fact that he was an Igbo man. He never pretended to be someone else so as to be accepted as many others did and are still doing. By his character, we knew him as much as by his fruits, and while he was an embodiment of courage and vision, he was limited by the shortcomings and unduly high expectations of those he led and by circumstances above his control.
The Ikemba Nnewi and Eze Ndigbo Gburugburu, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was born in November, 1933 with a silver spoon as his father, Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu was about the first transport millionaire of pre-independence Nigeria. The Ikemba attended the best schools in Nigeria and Britain and became a graduate in 1955. After a brief spell in the service of Eastern Nigeria civil service, he joined the army as if it was a divine prodding. For one thing, it was unthinkable for a University graduate to join the army, looked upon at the time as the place for the dumb heads and never-do-wells. He was a first-born son of his father, which in many cultures, especially in Igbo culture, thrust on him enormous responsibilities. He was not only among the first few graduates who joined the army, he was the very first university product that became a governor when he was appointed the military governor of Eastern Region in 1966 at the age of 33.
The January 1966 coup never had the input nor enjoyed the active support of Ojukwu, although he benefitted from it as it gave rise to his appointment as a military governor. Between the May 1966 pogrom against the Igbo, through the July 1966 counter coup targeted at the Ndigbo and the declaration of the rebellious Republic of Biafra in May 1967, Ojukwu had only one year to prepare for war. Meaning that the conception of Biafra and the preparation for its declaration and consequences were as a result of the events of May and July 1966. If that is the case then two facts emerges from it: one, is that neither Ojukwu nor the Ndigbo had any previous plan to secede and two, that more time would have been needed to plan for succession and its inevitable war. It then means that the Ojukwu leadership of the Ndigbo, whether as military governor of Eastern Region or as head of state of Biafra were purely circumstantial or a divine design. Well, in the realm of conjecture, even the most rational argument or logic could be rubbished if they are contrary to facts. In the same vein, when a people decide to reject anyone or anything regardless of truth and facts, no logic and argument can persuade them otherwise. All of which made perception as the decider of who caused the war and what role any individual played, before, during and after the civil war. However, the truth has a way of surfacing, no matter efforts made to suppress it.
The Ikemba Nnewi was a phenomenon in many ways. He read history and made history in such a way that he is today, history personified. If Biafra is dead, Ojukwu was its life. If Biafra remains a dream, Ojukwu is its inspiration, and if Biafra resurrects and thrive, the virtues of Ojukwu will be its driving force. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu may not have had the entire character traits of the Ndigbo whether of the positive hue or otherwise. For example, late Dr. Nnamidi Azikiwe and Dr. Michael Okpara were leaders of the Ndigbo as Premiers of the Eastern Region of Nigeria for a longer period than the Ikemba. Today, it is arguably if he hasn’t towered above them in acceptability and the personification of the Igbo dream and agenda.
As a man born into wealth and trained in the best schools and raised with high ethical standard of the time, it was a miracle that Ojukwu offered himself for the leadership of a bloody rebellion or secession. His personality and that of his chief opponent General Yakubu Gowon is a study in absolute contrast. As a graduate soldier who was also about one year older than Gowon and who joined the army a few months earlier, he considered himself superior to Gowon and so, was always forced to concede to his rival, whether in the army or during the negotiations before the war. The latent rivalries between Ojukwu and Gowon found expression during the difficult period of the January 1966 coup after which Gowon became Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters and so, superior to Ojukwu who became a military governor of a region. Gowon’s ascension to the headship of the country as well as his triple promotion to the rank of major general exacerbated the rivalry and made the peace talks very difficult. No wonder, the peace talk’s agreement were never implemented by either side to the dispute.
The Eze Ndigbo Gburugburu was a man of straight talks who found himself as both a military as much as a political leader. In his efforts to connect to the people and affect their hearts and direct them to victory, he sometimes abandons his very blunt talks and forayed into double-speak of the politician – which was not his nature. This was when he employs theatrics which he expressed in such an amateur manner that betrayed his thoughts and feelings. He was always forced to put on a face different from his actual face when he had to deal with the larger public on political issues. He knew the Igbo person, culture, traditions and tried his best to reflect those everywhere he found himself. He was totally involved in and with the Ndigbo dreams and dedicated his life to the best interests of the race – even as a sacrificial lamb. If the failure of Biafra and the ills or misfortunes of the Igbo nation in Nigeria is attributed to him, it is rightly so only on the account of the leadership price he had to pay, and not due to his perceived weakness as a leader. It is a pity I didn’t know him as I would have wanted, but I met him once and I dared the lion with a question. What was it?
Knowing that the 1967 – 1970 civil wars did allot of damage to the unity of some ethnic groups in the South, especially between the Yoruba and Igbo about the acclaimed role of Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the defeat of Biafra, I know no other person who could factually answer the question than the Ikemba himself. Again, if I fail to seize the occasion and the opportunity, there was no known way of reaching him again to pose my question. The Pro-National Conference Organization (PRONACO) was having a session in Enugu in 2005 to which Chief Ojukwu played host, after which he granted private audience to Chief Anthony Enahoro and a few of PRONACO leaders, including my humble self. And I dared the lion! “Sir, was it true that Chief Awolowo deceived the Igbo people into the was and abandoned them to their fate as some people claimed?”.
He looked at me intensely for sometime and asked Chief Enahoro who I was. After my formal introduction, the Ikemba softened his looks and answered in parables that may be paraphrased thus: “when was Chief Awolowo released from prison? Do you know when we proclaimed the Republic of Biafra? I don’t know who deceived who, but I know a people no one can deceive, and that is my people, the Ndigbo!” I believed him even though he did not pointedly answer my question. As a leader, there are certain myths you need to sustain in order keep yourself miles ahead of the led. Whatever serve to promote such myths is to be tolerated – even if you don’t encourage it. I was left to interpret his answer and I believe him-because he was involved! Rest in peace, the Eze Ndigbo Gburugburu of Nigeria!!