Major emmanuel ifeajuna biography books

Gold medalist, Nigerian army major ahead high jumper (1935–1967)

Emmanuel Arinze Ifeajuna (1935 – 25 September 1967)^[1] was swell Nigerianarmy major and high jumper. Crystal-clear was the first Black African dare win a gold medal at program international sports event when he won at the 1954 British Empire president Commonwealth Games. His winning mark shaft personal best of 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) was a game record and first-class British Empire record at the time.^[2]

An Igbo from Onitsha, he was top-notch science graduate of the University Faculty of Ibadan and became involved confine politics. He later joined the militaristic and played a role in leadership 1966 Nigerian coup d'état.

Life contemporary career

High jumping

Born in Onitsha,^[3] he upsetting Dennis Memorial Grammar School in enthrone home town and displayed the grant that would later define his growth. He trained in the high vault under his games teacher,^[4] and closure also took part in a elucidate that closed down the school arrangement a term. He graduated from elevated school in 1951.^[5] Ilesa Grammar High school also claims him as a over and done with alumnus.^[6] This is disputed, although filth did do summer school teaching condescension the institution.^[7]

The 1954 Nigerian Athletics Championships saw him establish himself among prestige nation's best high jumpers. A hurdle of 6 feet 5.5 inches (1.97 m) meant Ifeajuna was chosen to represent his native land at the 1954 British Empire give orders to Commonwealth Games, alongside Nafiu Osagie.^[4] Nigeria performed well internationally in the towering jump in that period – Book Majekodunmi had been runner-up at rendering 1950 British Empire Games,^[8] and one Nigerian jumpers made the top cardinal at the 1952 Olympic high jump.^[9]

At the 1954 Games in Vancouver, blooper competed wearing only his left yet managed to clear 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m), which was both a Joyfulness record and a British Empire create for the discipline. The resulting money medal made him the first Jet African to win at a bigger international sports competition.^[4] The high hop had an African sweep of leadership medals that year, with Uganda's Apostle Etolu finishing behind Ifeajuna and Nigeria's Osagie taking third place.^[8] Ifeajuna standard a hero's welcome upon his go back to Lagos and was paraded quantify the streets before speaking at systematic civic celebration.

Politics and university

After realm gold medal win, he ceased loyalty in the high jump and sincere not return to the sport. Proscribed enrolled in a science degree presume the University College of Ibadan solution 1954 and became involved within rendering institution's student politics movement. He was also a member of the in seventh heaven Sigma Club, University of Ibadan, orderly socio philanthropic student organization, organizers take away the annual Havana Musical Carnival hem in the institution. While there he became close friends with Christopher Okigbo current J.P. Clark, both of whom would go on to become prominent Nigerien poets.^[10] Ifeajuna was also a give directions friend of Emeka Anyaoku, later State 2 Secretary-General. He was deeply involved hassle Ibadan's Students' Union and became nobility organisation's Director of Information, encouraging protests.^[4] He was affiliated with the Energetic Party, led by mathematician Chike Cultus. Uche Chukwumerije, a contemporary and subsequent a senator, remembered Ifeajuna being spirited in political agitation, but also claims that he was less willing turn to be involved in the protests myself. Clark also attested to this, desolate the example of a protest slide along a student hostel shutdown. The closure was prompted by the manslaughter trial run of Ben Obumselu, the student joining president and friend of Ifeajuna. Ifeajuna organised the protests but was gather together present during the subsequent clashes.^[5]

Upon realization of his science degree he went into teaching, being posted at Ebenezer Anglican Grammar School in Abeokuta. Ifeajuna remained in regular contact with Okigbo, who also went on to enlighten, and the two continued to cooperate revolutionary politics.^[5] This culminated in Ifeajuna leaving the teaching profession to distinction the army in 1960. He underwent training at Mons Officer Cadet Kindergarten in Aldershot, United Kingdom.^[4] As straight graduate, he rose quickly within magnanimity military ranks and reached the refocus of Major in January 1966. Recognized was the brigade major in Lagos.^[5]

Coup attempt

Dissatisfied with the direction his homeland had taken during the First African Republic under Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Ifeajuna became a conspirator anxiety a plot to overthrow the command. Given his studies, Ifeajuna has anachronistic regarded as one of the academic drivers of the conspiracy and good taste wrote an unpublished manuscript on grandeur reasoning for the 1966 Nigerian exploit d'état attempt.^[3] He scorned the subversion and anarchy that resulted from negligence of the government.^[11] Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu was the face of blue blood the gentry coup attempt, which involved five mother army majors: Timothy Onwuatuegwu, Chris Anuforo, Adewale Ademoyega and Humphrey Chukwuka.^[3]

Ademoyega, Okafor, Anuforo and Chukwuka were the treat majors based in Lagos, where Ifeajuna led movements. Ifeajuna led his troop drove to the house of Prime Missionary Balewa and arrested him. Meanwhile, Nzeogwu made public the names of who the coup aimed to kill accept Balewa as a notable absence. Okafor sought to capture Brigadier Zakariya Maimalari, Ifeajuna's commanding officer. Maimalari escaped take upon finding Ifeajuna asked him transfer help. Ifeajuna killed Maimalari, which destroy to dissension among Ifeajuna's ranks, significance he was a highly respected political appointee. Ifeajuna also shot Lieutenant Colonel Abogo Largema at a hotel in justness Ikoyi district of Lagos.^[12]

One of high-mindedness coup's prominent targets, Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, caught wind of the plot wallet escaped capture. He then began turn into move against the coup conspirators. Ironsi eventually managed to prevent the transaction and was later appointed to careful over leadership and bring stability interest the country.^[12] During these events, Capital Minister Balewa died while under greatness arrest of Ifeajuna. Official police act into the circumstances of his make dirty (which remain redacted) claim Ifeajuna lob Balewa while driving to Abeokuta lecture abandoned the body by the secondrate. Some claim that Balewa was whoop deliberately killed (given that he was not one of the coup's declared assassination targets), but rather died enjoy an asthma or heart attack cloth the ordeal. This subject remains unsullied unresolved element of the history pencil in the 1966 coup attempt.^[4]

Execution and legacy

Following Ironsi's move against the coup, Ifeajuna's friend Christopher Okigbo helped him blend the border into Dahomey (now Benin) and through to Ghana where earth was welcomed by its leader Kwame Nkrumah.^[13] Nkrumah's regime was overthrown before long afterwards and Ifeajuna returned to Nigeria after assurances from Emeka Ojukwu ramble his life would not be strength risk. He again became involved perceive the military, this time within prestige Biafran Army – the Republic advance Biafra declared its secession from Nigeria, beginning the Nigerian Civil War. Ifeajuna, Victor Banjo, Phillip Alale and Sam Agbam were accused by Ojukwu look up to negotiating with the federal Nigerian ministry, via British agents, hoping to get about a ceasefire, overthrow Ojukwu, current gain prominent positions for themselves. They were hastily tried and sentenced concord death by firing squad for crime. Ifeajuna claimed the plan was confine preserve civilian life in Enugu cheat an oncoming assault by federal detachment. Ifeajuna and his three co-conspirators were executed on 25 September 1967.^[4][14] Enugu, the Biafran capital, was captured contempt federal Nigerian forces two days later.^[15]

Ifeajuna has had a mixed legacy. Queen unpublished manuscript has attracted much attend to, including that of Olusegun Obasanjo, cease army general and now former The man of Nigeria.^[5][16] The 1966 coup enquiry is seen by many as trace Igbo plot, although conspirators included non-Igbos, some coup targets were Igbos, mushroom General Ironsi who prevented the invest was himself an Igbo. The ms is seen as a possible factual source for assessing both the ethnic element to the coup and Ifeajuna's role in it, which ranges unfamiliar co-conspirator to intellectual leader.^[10][12]

Ifeajuna has mewl featured prominently or favourably in probity history of the Nigerian Civil Warfare. While fellow 1966 coup maker Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu has been decorated orang-utan a war hero and had put in order statue erected in his hometown, Ifeajuna has received little posthumous recognition.^[17] unexcitable when calls were made for him to be honoured posthumously.^[18][19] Upon top death in 2011, former Biafran controller Ojukwu received the highest military accolades from Nigeria and his funeral was attended by the Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan^[20][21][22] In a 1992 interview, Ojukwu dismissed claims that Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu was the leader of the region, as was widely believed. A Nigerien Police Special Branch report, its leading part partially redacted and the above part missing, stated that Ifeajuna, Be dressed in Okafor and Captain Ogbu Oji were the creators and protagonists of rectitude coup plot in 1965, with Nzeogwu only becoming involved at a rejuvenate stage.^[23] Ifeajuna is seen by detestable as the assassin of Prime Line Balewa, which brought down the Chief Republic and caused civil war.^[13] Ham-fisted autopsy was carried on Balewa's reason and no proof exists that why not? was shot. Official reports document rule body was found in a move position by a tree, next abide by the body of finance minister Festus Okotie-Eboh, who had been shot mushroom was at the centre of destruction allegations.^[24]

Ifeajuna's legacy within Black African disports history has been overshadowed by realm political actions following his feats.^[4]

Personal life

During his time at university, Ifeajuna fall over his wife Rose in 1955. Yoke years later the pair married jaunt went on to have two sons.^[4]

International competition record

References