Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu

General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Ikemba Nnewi was the leader of the state of Biafra and previously Military Governor of the Eastern Region of Nigeria. Esteemed by many, this Igbo hero was born in Zungeru, to Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu (KBE). Emeka attended Epsom College, in Surrey and later earned a Masters degree in history at Lincoln College, Oxford University.

He joined the Nigerian military and graduated from the prestigious Sandhurst Military Academy in England. He then became a Lieutenant Colonel in the Nigerian Army and Military Governor of Eastern Region. Following an Igbo pogrom in the Northern Region of Nigeria, Igbo leaders met in the Eastern Region and decided to declare the region independent. Emeka was chosen by them to lead the new country named "Biafra" after the Bight of Biafra.

Ojukwu left Biafra as it collapsed in 1970. He subsequently lived in exile in Côte d'Ivoire for 13 years. In 1980 President Alhaji Shehu Shagari pardoned Ojukwu and allowed him to return to Nigeria.

Today Ojukwu lives in Enugu Eastern Nigeria. In early December 2006 he was chosen to be the APGA presidential candidate for the April 2007 election.

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Celebrating Ndi-Igbo

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