JUST IN: Emeka Ojukwu’s Return from Years of Exile

“OJUKWU: Exile, Diplomacy And Survival” is a 156-page book by Kanayo Esinulo, a former aide to General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the leader of the defunct Republic of Biafra. Continue Reading>>>

Esinulo’s narrative delves into the national effort to bring Ojukwu back from exile, highlighting the potential for genuine national reconciliation that his return could have offered.

The book provides an account of the key figures involved in the “Return-Ojukwu-From-Exile” mission and their collective efforts to achieve it.

Esinulo, a seasoned journalist in both print and electronic media, presents a story filled with action, adventure, and unexpected turns, making it an engaging read.

His writing captures the atmosphere of the final days of Biafra and the tension-filled decision for Ojukwu to leave for Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, seeking peace.

Esinulo describes those last moments vividly: “Back to State House at Madonna One…conversations were held in hushed tones…. As consultations among the high and mighty went on, those of us young and lowly staff members hardly knew what was going on.

But the tension that was self-evident was thick enough to blunt the blow of a strong knife.”

Esinulo’s style is engaging, alternating between seriousness and wit, which moves the narrative forward at a quick pace. Although he provides insight into Ojukwu’s departure, details such as the names of those who accompanied him and the content of his final address to the Biafran people are sparse. Nevertheless, the core focus of the book remains on Ojukwu’s time in exile and the diplomatic maneuvers that facilitated his return to Nigeria in 1982.

Additional perspectives on Ojukwu’s escape are provided by Captain August Okpe in his autobiography, “The Last Flights From Biafra.” Okpe recounts Ojukwu’s decision to leave Biafra as the Nigerian forces closed in, describing how he met with a Rhodesian Major, Ian Carpenter, on January 9, 1970, to inform him of the impending defeat. As night fell, Carpenter joined the crowds at a damaged airstrip, where he encountered Ojukwu preparing for his final flight out of Biafra on a Super Constellation aircraft.

Esinulo’s book also sheds light on significant, lesser-known events of that period, such as the decision made at Ogwa, in today’s Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State, for Ojukwu’s departure. He recounts the challenges Ojukwu faced in exile, including the loss of Biafran assets by President Omar Bongo of Gabon and some Biafran officials after the war.

The book reveals the deeper meaning behind BIAFRA: “Born In Agony Fighting To Remain Alive” and underscores the diverse roles played by various ethnic groups in Nigeria to secure Ojukwu’s eventual pardon. It also highlights the struggles of King Dappa Pepple of the Bonny Kingdom, who faced restrictions in returning to his homeland after the civil war.

Esinulo shares his own experiences, including an encounter with Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka during a visit to Abidjan at Ojukwu’s invitation. He details his over 30 months of imprisonment at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison for managing “anti-Gowon propaganda” abroad and criticizes the role of Chief Edwin Clark, then Federal Commissioner of Information, in his detention. He pays tribute to figures like Gani Fawehinmi, Olu Onagoruwa, Tai Solarin, and Wole Soyinka, who advocated for his release even before the intervention of Amnesty International.

Reflecting on this period, Esinulo expresses his disdain for tribalism, emphasizing the unity shown by those who supported him despite the risks they faced under the Lagos regime. He writes, “One can now see clearly why I detest and condemn tribalism and any form of ethno-sectionalism in all ramifications and shapes.

Just take a look at the personages—all critical intellectuals and professionals that assembled themselves without any financial promptings or payments or inducements, in my defense, not minding, as it were, the obvious risks that the brutal Lagos regime was capable of unleashing on them.” Continue Reading>>>

With black-and-white photos, descriptive captions, and appendices containing Ojukwu’s messages to the author, Esinulo’s book enriches the body of literature on the Nigeria-Biafra civil war.

He sees it as “a celebration of friendship, human empathy, loyalty, commitment, selflessness, universal love of freedom, and most importantly, the fairness of human nature.”

The work offers a nuanced view of a tumultuous chapter in Nigeria’s history, highlighting the resilience of those who sought peace and reconciliation amid great challenges.