Lieutenant Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu

Definition

A Nigerian military officer and politician known for leading the Republic of Biafra during its secession from Nigeria between 1967 and 1970.

Analogy

Imagine a football team's captain who, unhappy with the league's rules, decides to create his own league. That's what Ojukwu did when he led Biafra in its attempt to break away from Nigeria.

Related terms

Biafra Secessionist Movement: The political and military effort by the Igbo people in Eastern Nigeria to secede from Nigeria and form their own independent nation, called the Republic of Biafra.

Nigerian Civil War: A civil war fought between the government of Nigeria headed by General Yakubu Gowon and the secessionist state of Biafra led by Lieutenant Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu from July 6, 1967, to January 15, 1970.

Republic of Biafra: An unrecognized secessionist state in West Africa which existed from May 30, 1967 to January 15, 1970. It was made up predominantly of the Igbo people.