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- Ohanaeze Ndigbo president-general Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, who died on Thursday, July 25, played a key role in the escape of Odumegwu Ojukwu, the generalissimo and leader of Biafra
- Iwuanyanwu narrated how his undergraduate education was disrupted during the Nigeria civil war when he was just in his final year at the UNN in Enugu
- According to Iwuanyanwu, he led the Biafran forces that staged opposition against the Nigeria forces and allowed Ojukwu to escape
Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo president-general, passed away on July 25 at the age of 81. He played a crucial role in the Biafran artillery during Nigeria's three-year civil war.
After the war, Iwuanyanwu contributed to reconciliatory efforts in post-war Nigeria in the 1970s. He served in government and represented the political interests of the Igbo people.
Source: Twitter
Why Iwuanyanwu did complete school
Iwuanyanwu was a successful businessman who worked in engineering for local and international corporate establishments. The Nigerian civil war disrupted his studies at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) in Enugu state.
During the war, he was drafted into the Biafra Research and Production (RaP) directorate. Iwuanyanwu worked on producing critical amenities and armaments, including bombs and rockets.
He served as a soldier, rising to the rank of captain, and led strategic battles, including the defence of Biafra's Uli Airport.
How Iwuanyanwu helped Ojukwu
Iwuanyanwu played a key role in enabling Odumegwu Ojukwu, the Biafran leader, to escape capture in January 1970.
The Biafran generalissimo Ogukwu handed over power to his second in command, Philip Effiong, in January 1970. He then fled to Cote d'Ivoire, where he obtained political asylum.
In his own account, the late president of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo formed a strong opposition to the federal government's forces, which paved the way for Ojukwu's escape.
See the video of his interview here:
Source: Legit.ng
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