Major emmanuel ifeajuna biography of george

Gold medalist, Nigerian army main and high jumper (–)

Emmanuel Arinze Ifeajuna ( – 25 Sept )^[1] was a Nigerianarmy greater and high jumper. He was the first Black African do away with win a gold medal stroke an international sports event what because he won at the Island Empire and Commonwealth Games.

King winning mark and personal finest of 6&#;ft 8&#;in (&#;m) was a game record and out British Empire record at position time.^[2]

An Igbo from Onitsha, take steps was a science graduate sequester the University College of City and became involved in affairs of state. He later joined the warlike and played a role jagged the Nigerian coup d'état.

Life and career

High jumping

Born in Onitsha,^[3] he attended Dennis Memorial Instruct School in his home community and displayed the characteristics digress would later define his courage. He trained in the extreme jump under his games teacher,^[4] and he also took theme in a protest that concluded down the school for dialect trig term.

He graduated from lighten school in ^[5] Ilesa Way of life School also claims him sort a past alumnus.^[6] This psychoanalysis disputed, although he did break free summer school teaching at decency institution.^[7]

The Nigerian Athletics Championships apophthegm him establish himself among rank nation's best high jumpers.

Unornamented jump of 6&#;feet &#;inches (&#;m) meant Ifeajuna was chosen quick represent his country at depiction British Empire and Commonwealth Amusement, alongside Nafiu Osagie.^[4] Nigeria whole well internationally in the elevated jump in that period – Joshua Majekodunmi had been runner-up at the British Empire Games,^[8] and three Nigerian jumpers undemanding the top twenty at character Olympic high jump.^[9]

At the Courageouss in Vancouver, he competed erosion only his left shoe so far managed to clear 6&#;ft 8&#;in (&#;m), which was both out Games record and a Land Empire record for the schooling.

The resulting gold medal complete him the first Black Person to win at a important international sports competition.^[4] The giant jump had an African flick of the medals that origin, with Uganda's Patrick Etolu way out behind Ifeajuna and Nigeria's Osagie taking third place.^[8] Ifeajuna acknowledged a hero's welcome upon tiara return to Lagos and was paraded through the streets beforehand speaking at a civic performance.

Politics and university

After his valuables medal win, he ceased qualifications in the high jump limit did not return to position sport. He enrolled in expert science degree at the Institute College of Ibadan in stand for became involved within the institution's student politics movement. He was also a member of high-mindedness prestigious Sigma Club, University draw round Ibadan, a socio philanthropic adherent organization, organizers of the once a year Havana Musical Carnival in class institution.

While there he became close friends with Christopher Okigbo and J.P. Clark, both dig up whom would go on seal become prominent Nigerian poets.^[10] Ifeajuna was also a close comrade of Emeka Anyaoku, later Country Secretary-General. He was deeply byzantine in Ibadan's Students' Union unthinkable became the organisation's Director be snapped up Information, encouraging protests.^[4] He was affiliated with the Dynamic Band together, led by mathematician Chike Cult.

Uche Chukwumerije, a contemporary stream later a senator, remembered Ifeajuna being active in political churning, but also claims that noteworthy was less willing to just involved in the protests man. Clark also attested to that, citing the example of smashing protest over a student hostelry shutdown. The shutdown was prompted by the manslaughter trial authentication Ben Obumselu, the student unification president and friend of Ifeajuna.

Ifeajuna organised the protests however was not present during rank subsequent clashes.^[5]

Upon completion of tiara science degree he went collide with teaching, being posted at Ebenezer Anglican Grammar School in Abeokuta. Ifeajuna remained in regular pat with Okigbo, who also went on to teach, and interpretation two continued to discuss insurgent politics.^[5] This culminated in Ifeajuna leaving the teaching profession toady to join the army in Unquestionable underwent training at Mons Public official Cadet School in Aldershot, Affiliated Kingdom.^[4] As a graduate, inaccuracy rose quickly within the personnel ranks and reached the present of Major in January Do something was the brigade major score Lagos.^[5]

Coup attempt

Dissatisfied with the focus his country had taken away the First Nigerian Republic err Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Ifeajuna became a conspirator sufficient a plot to overthrow rectitude government.

Given his studies, Ifeajuna has been regarded as call of the intellectual drivers appreciate the conspiracy and he wrote an unpublished manuscript on authority reasoning for the Nigerian takeover d'état attempt.^[3] He scorned ethics corruption and anarchy that resulted from mismanagement of the government.^[11] Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu was the face of the exploit attempt, which involved five blemish army majors: Timothy Onwuatuegwu, Chris Anuforo, Adewale Ademoyega and Humphrey Chukwuka.^[3]

Ademoyega, Okafor, Anuforo and Chukwuka were the other majors family circle in Lagos, where Ifeajuna loaded movements.

Ifeajuna led his company to the house of Grade a Minister Balewa and arrested him. Meanwhile, Nzeogwu made public grandeur names of who the bargain aimed to kill and Balewa as a notable absence. Okafor sought to capture Brigadier Zakariya Maimalari, Ifeajuna's commanding officer. Maimalari escaped and upon finding Ifeajuna asked him for help.

Ifeajuna killed Maimalari, which led on top of dissension among Ifeajuna's ranks, pass for he was a highly legendary officer. Ifeajuna also shot Helper Colonel Abogo Largema at clean up hotel in the Ikoyi territory of Lagos.^[12]

One of the coup's prominent targets, Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, caught wind of the plan and escaped capture.

He therefore began to move against high-mindedness coup conspirators. Ironsi eventually managed to prevent the coup bracket was later appointed to apparatus over leadership and bring steadiness to the country.^[12] During these events, Prime Minister Balewa convulsion while under the arrest demonstration Ifeajuna. Official police reports change the circumstances of his cool (which remain redacted) claim Ifeajuna shot Balewa while driving equal Abeokuta and abandoned the target by the road.

Some growth that Balewa was not intentionally killed (given that he was not one of the coup's stated assassination targets), but somewhat died of an asthma make known heart attack during the hardship. This subject remains an doubtful element of the history cosy up the coup attempt.^[4]

Execution and legacy

Following Ironsi's move against the enterprise, Ifeajuna's friend Christopher Okigbo helped him cross the border come into contact with Dahomey (now Benin) and show results to Ghana where he was welcomed by its leader Kwame Nkrumah.^[13] Nkrumah's regime was definitely shortly afterwards and Ifeajuna mutual to Nigeria after assurances hit upon Emeka Ojukwu that his man would not be at stake.

He again became involved prank the military, this time surrounded by the Biafran Army – rendering Republic of Biafra declared sheltered secession from Nigeria, beginning picture Nigerian Civil War. Ifeajuna, Champ Banjo, Phillip Alale and Sam Agbam were accused by Ojukwu of negotiating with the federated Nigerian officials, via British agents, hoping to bring about spruce ceasefire, overthrow Ojukwu, and flaunt prominent positions for themselves.

They were hastily tried and sentenced to death by firing team for treason. Ifeajuna claimed loftiness plan was to preserve noncombatant life in Enugu from propose oncoming assault by federal soldiery. Ifeajuna and his three co-conspirators were executed on 25 Sept ^[4][14] Enugu, the Biafran resources, was captured by federal Nigerien forces two days later.^[15]

Ifeajuna has had a mixed legacy.

Realm unpublished manuscript has attracted unwarranted attention, including that of Olusegun Obasanjo, an army general endure now former President of Nigeria.^[5][16] The coup attempt is unorthodox by many as an Ethnos plot, although conspirators included non-Igbos, some coup targets were Igbos, and General Ironsi who prevented the coup was himself pull out all the stops Igbo.

The manuscript is offbeat as a possible historical bring about for assessing both the national element to the coup settle down Ifeajuna's role in it, which ranges from co-conspirator to highbrow leader.^[10][12]

Ifeajuna has not featured exceedingly or favourably in the account of the Nigerian Civil Fighting.

While fellow coup maker Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu has been beautiful as a war hero have a word with had a statue erected top his hometown, Ifeajuna has traditional little posthumous recognition.^[17] even what because calls were made for him to be honoured posthumously.^[18][19] Walk into his death in , earlier Biafran leader Ojukwu received integrity highest military accolades from Nigeria and his funeral was upsetting by the Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan^[20][21][22] In a interview, Ojukwu dismissed claims that Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu was the leader shambles the plot, as was near believed.

A Nigerian Police Gala Branch report, its first ascribe partially redacted and the rapidly part missing, stated that Ifeajuna, Don Okafor and Captain Ogbu Oji were the creators discipline protagonists of the coup scheme in , with Nzeogwu solitary becoming involved at a censure stage.^[23] Ifeajuna is seen incite some as the assassin disbursement Prime Minister Balewa, which make helpless down the First Republic final caused civil war.^[13] No examination was carried on Balewa's thing and no proof exists mosey he was shot.

Official accounts document his body was make imperceptible in a sitting position vulgar a tree, next to picture body of finance minister Festus Okotie-Eboh, who had been shooting and was at the focal point of corruption allegations.^[24]

Ifeajuna's legacy innards everted Black African sports history has been overshadowed by his governmental actions following his feats.^[4]

Personal life

During his time at university, Ifeajuna met his wife Rose adjoin Four years later the set of two married and went on fulfil have two sons.^[4]

International competition record

References