'I Have A Grudge With The Nigerian Army, I Shouldn't Have Been Labeled A Rebel'
By Bankole Adeshina

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL Chris Ugokwe retired from the Nigerian Army in 1985. He has since then served as a former Chairman, National Population Commission (NPC); Chairman, African Population Commission (APC) and Vice Chairman, United Nations Commission on Population and Development. Twenty-five years after retirement, Ugokwe, in this interview, speaks on his experiences in the Army and why he fought on the side of Biafra during the Civil War, which he blamed for his inability to make it to the rank of General in the force like his contemporaries.

Your days in the Nigerian Army?

I joined the Nigerian Army on April 13, 1962, with General Mohammed Buhari and the late General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, among other colleagues. These were my contemporaries in the army and we enrolled the same day.

How come you did not make it to the rank of General?

All fingers are not equal, so they say, and that was true in my case. I left the Nigerian Army in 1985. While in service, General Babangida was my Corps Commander and Commander at a stage. He (Babangida) belonged to the Armoured Corps. Before the 1967 to 1970 civil war, I was his senior for about six months in the Armoured Wrecking Squadron. Unfortunately, I fought on the Biafran side and was not promoted to the rank of General alongside my contemporaries.

If I had fought on the Nigerian side, maybe I would have risen to the rank during the promotion exercise after the war. But even without the war, one is not sure whether I would have become a General before my retirement. As you know, the base of a triangle is wide and as you go up, it becomes slimmer, meaning that only one will make it, for instance, to the position of Chief of Army Staff even if all of you enrolled the same day in the army. Besides, after the rank of Major, every other rank in the Army is based on vacancy and Federal Character.

Do you have any regret for fighting on the side of Biafra during the civil war?

For those of us who fought on the side of Biafra, the period of the war did not count in our promotion. However, quite frankly, I have no regret at all. The build up to the civil was so complicated that the kits and kin of Ndigbo were rounded up across the country and shot and we just felt that Nigeria was not safe for us. So, we all ran back to the East for safety. I had no choice but to fight for my people (Biafra) during the war.

Were you rewarded for the efforts you made during the war?

Everything is left for history to decide. We gave our lives to defend our people and if such happens again, I will not hesitate to defend my people. I believe that history will determine in the future whether our efforts at the war were worth being rewarded by our people.

I remember that when I was commissioned as the second lieutenant colonel in the Nigerian Army, I swore to defend the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But something happened along the line and I realised that I was not wanted within the confines of Nigeria. I had to run back to my people to take refuge.

Gen. Hassan Usman, who was the Military Governor to the Northern Group of Provinces, facilitated my escape to the east before the civil war. I was then his Aide De Camp. When he found that I was not safe again to remain in Kaduna with him, he sent me home on official leave.

During that period, Ndigbo were pursued, rounded and murdered. So, Gen. Hassan, knowing that I was an Igbo Officer, sent me on leave officially because of his likeness for me.

In fact, I have a grudge with the Nigerian Army because I should not have been labeled as a rebel or ex-rebel, as I was sent on official leave before the war. So, if I was on approved leave and the borders were shut and there was no way I could come back to Nigeria, to resume my job, I don't see why I was made to suffer after the war. There was no reason I shouldn't have been promoted along with my colleagues-Gen. Buhari, Gen. Tarfa, Gen. Sherlin and Gen. Yar'Adua. Thank God that Gen. Babangida is alive today and can testify that I was actually sent on approved leave before the war broke out.

Did you complain about this to the army authorities?

I considered it irrelevant to complain because my contemporaries in the military were all alive at that time and they knew what transpired. In fact, when I was leaving Kaduna for the East in September 1966, the duo of Gen. Babangida and Gen. Duba escorted me to the railway station. So, they knew that I did not run away but was on official leave. I was to go back and continue my job as aide de camp whenever the tensed situation normalised. But that never happened. Tempers kept rising until it escalated into a shooting war.

I believe strongly that I was justified to fight for Biafra. I had no other choice than to do so because all the boarders were closed and there was no way I could have crossed over back to Nigeria. In fact, after the war when I went to see Gen. Hassan Usman, he said something to the effect that I was well trusted and ought not to have fought against the country. But luckily for me, Gen. Shua who commanded One Infantry Division during the war was there and told him that the troops in the front line on the Nigerian side, where I would have crossed did not know me. So, obviously, it was not safe for me to cross because they would have killed me if I had tried to. And after the explanations, he agreed that I would have put my life in jeopardy if I had done so.

Didn't you feel bad that your colleagues, who knew about your situation, could not make case for you?

I cannot blame them because they labeled all of us as rebels.

But they fought for the country?

Yes and the efforts earned them promotion to Generals. Although, those that fought on the side of Biafra also got promotions, the ranks were considered illegitimate and were subsequently nullified after were re-absorbed into the military.

In Biafra, I was a Brigade Commander and that was equal to the job of Brigadier-General had it been considered legitimate. If that had happened, I would have become a Brigadier-General before my retirement in 1985. However, I remain grateful to the country and its army for making me who I am today by sending me to military trainings all over the world.

Do you still believe in the agitations for the creation of Biafra?

No! It is better to remain in Nigeria. After all, the more we are together, the happier and stronger we shall be. This country is a special country blessed by God with enormous resources, which will be better harnessed for our development if we remain together. You cannot be talking about Biafra without an Army, Police and other institutions with which to achieve the course.

I strongly believe in one Nigeria rather than operating in isolation. I have faith in this country. This was why I strongly objected to comments made by the Libyan leader, Gen. Mohammed Gadaffi that the country should be split. He does not have any authority to speak for Nigerians. He should mind the business of his country and leave Nigeria for Nigerians. If there were any need for such, Nigerians would agitate by themselves.

As your colleague in the Nigerian Army, how do see Gen. Babangida's interest in running for presidency come 2011?

He is a Nigerian and is entitled to the right to vote and be voted for. The man had been there before and has got the experience to lead if given the opportunity. I believe he would explore the chance to correct any wrongs he might have committed in the past if Nigerians vote him in. Meanwhile, I don't think he committed any offence when he was in the military because if he did, he would have been appropriately dealt with.

How has life been 25 years after retirement?

The experiences I gathered during my days in the army have helped me to go through easily. Specifically, that was what helped me to live up to expectations as the Commissioner and subsequently Chairman, National Population Commission. It helped me more when I became the Chairman of African Population Commission and Vice Chairman, United Nations Commission on Population and Development.

What are your unpleasant memories of your service in the army?

It was a sad moment for me when on February 13, 1976, the late Col. Buka Zuka Dimka tried to topple the Nigerian Army and in the process assassinated the late Gen. Murtala Mohammed. I felt so bad about it such that I wasted no time when Gen. Babangida came to me and said that I should assemble armoured cars; that we were moving to Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria to dislodge him. It was he (Babangida, the Core Commander) and I (Regimental Commander, Nigerian Army, Armoured Division) that mounted 13 armored cars and drove to the station and I was happy the operation was successful. As such, we were able to regain the country from the dissidents. The only damage was that they assassinated the military head of state but did not succeed to topple the government.

What were your happy memories in the Army?

Those were the times when I went for military operations outside the country, especially the one on Lake Chad where we lost 21 islands in 1984. Then Gen. Muhammadu Buhari was the Commanding Officer, Third Armored Division and he called me that we must recapture the islands. I was a Col. General Staff then.

While on the operation, I moved the three armoured divisional headquarters to Maiduguri and asked the 21 Armoured Brigade to move to Badger and we planned the operation and succeeded in recapturing all the islands and added two more as bonus. I felt very proud with the operation, considering the short period of time.

What do you think could be do to improve the operational efficiency of the nation's army?

The government should give the officers their dues, look after their welfare, make equipments available, kit them properly and give them sufficient funds so as to effectively defend the country. Even now, they are doing very well and their performances in United Nations' and ECOWAS's operations are quite impressive.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/life_style/article22/010510?pdate=010510&ptitle=%27I%20Have%20A%20Grudge%20With%20The%20Nigerian%20Army, I%20Shouldn%27t%20Have%20Been%20Labeled%20A%20Rebel%27&cpdate=010510

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL Chris Ugokwe retired from the Nigerian Army in 1985. He has since then served as a former Chairman, National Population Commission (NPC); Chairman, African Population Commission (APC) and Vice Chairman, United Nations Commission on Population and Development. Twenty-five years after retirement, Ugokwe, in this interview, speaks on his experiences in the Army and why he fought on the side of Biafra during the Civil War, which he blamed for his inability to make it to the rank of General in the force like his contemporaries.

When merit speaks others keep quiet.

Col chris ugokwe, what is nigeria had worked would be here having grudges with an incompetent , sectionalised army whose only achievement was trying to stop biafra and in the process loosing 200,000 men and using hunger instead of gun and bombs to wage war even against the most ill equiped and unprepared rebel force, an army that claims its main objective is to defend its territorial integrity but lost oil reach bakassi peninsula to cameroun and is fighting for empty islands in chad.

@!Mekussx
What dou know abt merit U are so irelevant, I have always respected people who lay there lives to serve this country. However, this man's reason for participating in the war is laughable and self-conceited. Joining a war because he wasnt made general. Na wa ooooooo, with this kind of reasonin people will start burnin companies because dey weren't promoted. Some things shuld nt be said how much more published!

@Mekussxx
and u sayin u hv bin sleepin wit a yoruba chik since is in bad taste, u r a cheap kiss and tell. Bt den since its braggin time. If only u kno wat we do to all thoe ibo chicks in lagos u will think twice abt payin that ridiculos bride price. U also kno dat when it comes 2 havin women, yoruba men are 2gbaski! we r silver tongued and den dispose those babes wit complains abt nt bin able 2 pay dere bride prices (shuldnt b sayin dis here, lettin our secrets out)

Lelele:

I have only one statement for you. You are a mediocre (as evident) and way beneath my league, being reason why I have largely chosen to ignore you. I only responded to let you know what I think of you.

lelele:

@Mekussxx
and u sayin u hv bin sleepin wit a yoruba chik since is in bad taste, u r a cheap kiss and tell. Bt den since its braggin time. If only u kno wat we do to all thoe ibo chicks in lagos u will think twice abt payin that ridiculos bride price. U also kno dat when it comes 2 havin women, yoruba men are 2gbaski! we r silver tongued and den dispose those babes wit complains abt nt bin able 2 pay dere bride prices (shuldnt b sayin dis here, lettin our secrets out)

This M.oron intends to derail this topic. Please smell away from here as you have got nothing sensible to write. I.diot.

Just like most Ibo men, this fool of a Colonel sees the world only in his own eyes. How the hell u join a rebel group, fight against your own nation, then cry that u wasnt promoted to General or that your "made-up" rank was not recognized?!?! Is this dude super st.u.pid or what? He lucky I aint in charge. Instead of conscripting his treacherous aszz back in the army, I'd have had him court-martialed then executed!!! Foolish Ibo man!!! U join a rag-tag army, an army whose soldiers had no military boots, an army whose soldiers fought either bare feet or with flip-flops, an army whose policy was "one gun to two soldiers", two bullets per gun etc. As if the Nigerian military aint substandard as it is, this ibo man is now insisting that every undertrained rebel that was in the Biafran army be re-enlisted and given the rank they held in their rebel conclave; what kinda logic is that?!!?! These Ibo men will neva cease to amaze me!!!

Col ugokwe was a Colonel in Nigerian Army but a Brigadier-General in Biafra Army.
What a sporadic promotion!!!!!!
Mekusxxxx was very particular about Col Ugokwe position as Chairman of Nigerian Population Commission.He was appointed by the FG for the post. Big deal,

@abada
There is something called reference in case u dnt kno abt it, the post was intended only for Mekussxx bt if u wanna comment at least do so with appropriate tenses and good use of grammar.

olafolarin:

Col ugokwe was a Colonel in Nigerian Army but a Brigadier-General in Biafra Army.
What a sporadic promotion!!!!!!
Mekusxxxx was very particular about Col Ugokwe position as Chairman of Nigerian Population Commission.He was appointed by the FG for the post. Big deal,

I know you cannot read, because if you can you would have noticed that I cared less about the Nigerian appointment as I only highllighted the African and global ones. Bloody illiterate, Olafolarin

There is nothing sporadicabout moving from Col to Brigadier. The later is the direct rank above the former.

@Mekussxxx

U dnt even know wat mediocre is, without bragging I can safely wager my neck dt in terms of achievements, money and education, u can't even touch my heels. I have schooled in five universities in 7 different countries. I presently seat on boards dat oversee finance and investment in the whole of Africa, and Asia. Worked in three of best investment banks (JP morgan (asia), Barclays capital (UK), BNP paribas (Brasil), Won't include my Nigerian experience for now. Wat do u have? What have u studied? I have spent nothing less than $200,000 on my personal education. I have degrees from Manchester, Cambridge, Harvard and Trium. So who are you? What do u kno? When perhaps this is the only opportunity you have in life to relate with someone who can make a change globally. You are to ethnocentric 2 hv a gud job, a very good headhunter (though I am sure no one will headhunt you for the next 15 years) will notice traits that are not positive in you. Either you know it or not i am below 30, one of the very few exceptions to ever do a Trium in the whole world. So what do u have

@ Mekussxx

Wat are yr thots on mediocrity? When u ar eager 2 claim a Soludo, Soludo 4 cryin out as yr brother (a guy dat sold dummy, inactive and fraudulent banks as his biggest achievements). A guy that had 2 leave the finance world for politics, cos if u kno yr onions u won't touch that guy wit a long pole (he represents bad bizness 4 now). A guy who tried academic models in a complicated market (D guy used d banking sector for his personal experiment). Even an idiot knew the banks were goin 2 start cookin books in a bid to fit into a non ideal model. Now u r prais singin 4 an idiot colonel dt spews rubbish, For some1 who is nt mediocre u do celebr8 mediocrity and the mediocre. Well if u hav notin 2 celebr8, celebr8 me! Ditch mediocrity!

Lelele:

From their fingers they shall be known. Your thought process, grammar presentation and writing skills among other features give you away as a thorough mediocre. You can brag on cyberspace all you want, but the truth is evident. I beg comot for road, mediocrity personified.

ur metaphoric expressions are poor, U r talkin abt grammar (u? u? of all people). Dint kno there was a thorough mediocre, though people were thoroughbreds or mediocres (bt den u dnt kno d meanin of bin thorough). A cheap skank like yrsef wit no identifiable contributn to society. U kno u can't even address issues dt I raise, talk abt Soludo naw, a man who started a 'reform' in d banking industry without makin service users his primary objective. Nigeria became a first at doing it wrong again (Thanks 2 Soludo). I dnt admire Sanusi's method bt he is doin d rite thing. U kno yr logic is so poor dat I only answa u wen I am on d tube, yr arguments r shallow. Pray dt I neva hv d time 2 answa u frm a wokstation!

^^^^^^^^
With such unintelligible gibberish up there, do I need to define mediocrity any further? I have read of gangs of Nigerian fraudsters and I know you belong in that group.

U accuse everyone of being a fraudster. lol. thats mad funny considering the fact that ure Ibo. . . . . .

U r like yr man Soludo ( A cheap skank)! Nigeria's first banking charlatan!

Lelele

Plus, only unintelligent, at best average people like  you spend their own money to study. My tuition fees, well over 2 million USD, were paid for by:
1. Nigeria govt
2. British govt
3. Dutch govt
4. US govt

Govts begged me to study, all expense paid. You can only dream of possesing some of my degrees and achievements to date.

@Mekussxx

I hv read thru yr posts, I am yet 2 find a place where u give a new insight on an issue. Yr one and constant rant is Yorubas are bad (okay we r bad, bt u r a skank). Did a yoruba man rape yr mom?

@mekusssxxx
Idiot! to study wat Two million naira on wat? Which British govt dey beg u? Wat year 4 wat? Listen dnt even lie here, cos I will pieces u. Where did u study and wat?

Well it will take 2 million dollars like u to make a slowpoke lik u undastand a simple thing. The govts were just frustrated wit u and yr level of thinkin.

In d last five years only 8 Nigerians hav won grants of two million and non is an Igbo man, I kno 3 on a personal note.

Lelele

Not on NL. Mekusxxx is only but a screen name and NL is not the place to proffer anything useful- only mediocres attempt to do so here; so if you want solutions from me, you'd have first to find out my real identity. Then  you will be wowed by whom you are having to deal with in reality. I am not your mate, buddy. Now buzz off and go do some fraud.

Just mention one of d unis u attended, just one! mention somtin of note u hv done! just one! mention a place u hv worked! just one!

mekusxxx:

Lelele

Plus, only unintelligent, at best average people like  you spend their own money to study. My tuition fees, well over 2 million USD, were paid for by:
1. Nigeria govt
2. British govt
3. Dutch govt
4. US govt

Govts begged me to study, all expense paid. You can only dream of possesing some of my degrees and achievements to date.

Arrrgggh, please shut the fu.xck up!!! U lying piece of shiyyytt. U can impress MENTAL-gong and co with the ashes of the volcanic lies ure spewing on here but not moi. Liar!!!!

mekusxxx:

Lelele

Not on NL. Mekusxxx is only but a screen name and NL is not the place to proffer anything useful- only mediocres attempt to do so here; so if you want solutions from me, you'd have first to find out my real identity. Then  you will be wowed by whom you are having to deal with in reality. I am not your mate, buddy. Now buzz off and go do some fraud.

Duh, we know its a screen name, please tell us something new. Altho, seeing as ure Ibo, I wont be surprised ur folks couldnt come up with something more creative and that Mekushiyyt is acutually ur real name!!!

@mekussxxx
lelele is also a screen name idiot, I was on the BNP Paribas team that helped d govt wit Nitel. U r on quicksand matie cos I lend 2 nations!

@mekussxxx
Tell us sometin of note abt u, tell us d least traceable. Fuckin wanka!

Lelele: One advice; DO NOT REVEAL TOO MUCH ABOUT URSELF ON HERE. Mekuyyshit is known for goading folks into revealing their "true" selves by starting this "Im more qualified than u, tell me what school u went to" bullcrap, he finds out your real identity then tries to blackmail u. One rumor I heard was he contacted this one dudes employer and had him fired another is he tries to use your information to commit Identity theft. Be careful! Remember, dude is Ibo!!!

@Bk/babe97
Thanks a lot. I hv actually moved on form BNP, so no wahala! I will take note of yr advice, once again thanks.

Lelele

Tution fees from primary to PhD level, plus an MBA to garnish it
Innumerable flight tickets for holidays, field trips, conferences, seminars and workshops
Acommodation in choice hotels and home accomodation, feeding and an extremely handsome monthly allowance- tax free
All for over 25 years and absolutely free
That amounts to well over 2 million USD and that is modestly put.

I did not pay fees to study, govts did so for me.

Can you beat that?

mekusxxx:

Lelele

Tution fees from primary to PhD level, plus an MBA to garnish it
Innumerable flight tickets for holidays, field trips, conferences, seminars and workshops
Acommodation in choice hotels and home accomodation, feeding and an extremely handsome monthly allowance- tax free
All for over 25 years and absolutely free
That amounts to well over 2 million USD and that is modestly put.

I did not pay fees to study, govts did so for me.

Can you beat that?

.  .  .  . . . . . . . And we salute u, Professor Hawkins. So, for the billions these numerous govt invested in your education what did they get in return?!? While your contemporaries are busy building super-computers and floating cars, what do u use your qualifications for; ETHNIC BASHING!!! LOL Dude, if u think ure impressing anyone apart from your Ibo siblings with all these lies u really must be in Biafraland lalaland!!!!