Reasons Why Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Joined Nigeria Army In 1957
Many have put up reasons behind Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu joining the Army in 1957. Some of these reasons are true while some are far from the truth.
According to Frederick Forsyth, a friend and confidant of Dim who kept close touch with him during his years of exile and also accompanied Ojukwu on his return to Nigeria wrote on Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu’s reason for joining the Nigeria Army in 1957 against his father’s wish.
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He wrote that, “The main reason for joining the army was to get away from all-pervasive influence of his father and make a career for himself”. But he was also clever enough to foresee even then that the Army in a newly Independent African State would be of great importance.
He thought the role of the Army would be a unifying one, an instrument to hold the country together and provide a continuing stability behind the world of politics while keeping himself firmly out of political arena”.
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Forsyth penned down this reason, in a close interview he had with his friend, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu which he spelt out in his book titled “EMEKA”.
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