Thanks to Chief Kanayo Esinulo’s book, ‘Ojukwu : Exile, Diplomacy and Survival’, the truth about the one commonly referred to as Biafran rebel leader, is emerging. General Ibrahim Babangida’s revelation may just be what Nigerians need, to turn a new leaf.

Indeed, General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu – Ojukwu believed so much in Nigeria that all through his twelve years in exile, he ate, thought and loved his country of birth. For a man who was born in the North to Igbo parents and schooled in the West, the same nation, caused him to declare Biafra in 1967.

The pogrom in the North that claimed thousands of Igbo lives for an offence committed by a group of ambitious soldiers was enough to take offence. To think of the fact that Ojukwu as a Battalion Commander in Kano at the time, was one of those who stemmed the January 1966 coup.

When the counter coup came in July 1966, Ojukwu was governor of Eastern Region. He still believed in One Nigeria especially after his friend, Ado Bayero, Emir of Kano and Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka promised that the  Igbo were free to return to the North.

Believing in the words of the Emir, Ojukwu urged the Igbo to need the call. As they trooped back, families were slaughtered, the more. The man lived with that guilt of sending his people to their graves. He saw Kano as home and Northern Nigeria, a part of his family.

After the pogrom, there was hope for peace and justice. Lt. Col Yakubu Gowon should not have stepped into Gen. Johnson Ironsi’s shoes as Head of State. There were senior officers, Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe, Commodore Akinwale Wey,  Col. Adeyinka Adebayo, Col Wellington Bassey and even Lt.Cols George Kurubo, David Ejoor and Victor Banjo.

Nigerians kept quiet and Gowon emerged as Commander – in – Chief. That was the beginning of injustice. When people complain about their juniors promoted over them today, know that it began after July 1966 and those who should speak out tied their tongues with silence.

Peduase Lodge, Aburi offered Nigeria the best opportunity to make peace, in January 1967. Everything was smoothly handled by the host, Ghanaian Head of State, General Joseph Ankrah. And an agreement was reached. Unfortunately, Gowon came back and breached the understanding. He listened to self serving bureaucrats and created 12 states.

If Ojukwu did not declare Biafra after Gowon tried to play smart, the people would have lynched him. It sounded like Lagos was dancing on the graves of victims of the pogrom. It was Gowon that declared war and attacked first, through Garkem.

From the moment Ojukwu touched down in Abidjan on January 11, 1970, he began to plot his way back to Nigeria to be part of post war efforts, especially to make sure that those who lived in Biafra were properly rehabilitated.

Ojukwu was in contact with prominent Nigerians like Prof. Wole Soyinka,  Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim, Dr. Tai Solarin and through him Chief Obafemi Awolowo. He had sympathisers in and outside government and they paid him visits, in Yamoussoukro and later Bingerville.

The Biafran general maintained political cells all over Nigeria and worked with activists and journalists. Esinulo was the go between. Dr. Emeka Enejere handled leadership so discreetly. Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Dr. Olu Onagoruwa and Mr. Gbolabo Ogunsanwo were fully involved.

Today, we talk of Bourdillon and President Bola Tinubu. Before Jagaban, there was Chief Ike Onunaku. On paper, he was a General Manager at UAC. However, his house at Bourdillon, Ikoyi was like Central Bank and Tactical Command headquarters. Ojukwu was El Supremo at Bourdillon, long before the Fourth Republic.

He was not idle. After language lessons in French, Spanish and Portuguese, Ojukwu became a multi millionaire in Cote d’Ivoire. Many thanks to leaders like his host, Felix Houphouet – Boigny and Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia, the Nigerian picked up in good time and set up a conglomerate that included Phoenix Africaine, Dow and SERECI.

These companies were into construction, haulage and aircraft leasing. Managed by a retired French veteran, Col Pierre Barange, they employed over 100 expatriates. It was from here he sent money to his men all over the world. This reminds me of exiled leaders, Felix Maloum of Chad and Siad Barre of Somalia, who idled away in Lagos.

Ojukwu was a Master Tactician. He beat Nigerian Intelligence, headed by MD Yusuf. Even Nigerian officials who visited him in Abidjan did not have Ivorian Immigration stamps on their passports and on their way back, never flew straight to Lagos.

As far back as 1978, when he got wind of the planned transition to democracy, the Biafran general was ready to contest elections into the House of Representatives under the platform of the Great Nigeria Peoples Party. The Michael Ani led Electoral Commission, FEDECO, disqualified him.

Ojukwu could beat any trap. He could transform from  Mon General to Christopher Onikel and jet out to Europe as Dr. Kofi. And his journalist friends were always welcome.  Frederick Forsyth, Gerald Ludi, Rajat Neogy, Osei Poku, Emma Barns, name them.

There was something between Awo and Ojukwu which Esinulo did not tell. Yes, Awo wanted Ojukwu to join the Unity Party of Nigeria. Chief Victor Onabanjo was in Abidjan to see Ojukwu. Solarin could have also gone with a message. At the end, thanks to President Shehu Shagari and men like Vice President Alex Ekwueme, Chuba Okadigbo, Victor Masi, Umaru Shinkafi and Ibrahim Tahir, freedom came on May 18, 1982.

It was therefore no coincidence that when Ojukwu died, he was buried by Nigeria. Although, he failed to win elections severally, his wife Bianca, has continued to serve the Federal Government. She was an Ambassador, now she is a minister. Ojukwu was indeed more Nigerian than some of  those who tried to crucify him.