ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, Jan. 23 (Reuters)—Gen. Odumegwu Ojukwu, who was the leader of secessionist Biafra, is in the Ivory Coast and has been granted asylum, the Government here announced today.

An official announement said that he would refrain from taking part in political activities.

The Ivory Coast was one of the four African countries that recognized Biafra. Others were Zambia, Gabon and Tanzania.

But on Jan. 12 after General Ojukwu had left Biafra and his whereabouts had become matter of intense speculation, the Ivory Coast president, Fèlix‐ Houphonët ‐ Boigny said that his country would never grant asylum to a Biafran government in exile and would never serve as a base for sub version.

The announcement by this former French colony west of Nigeria added, “This extremely clear position allows our country to welcome any political refugee who pledges to respect this rule.”

He Departed From Owerri

General Ojukwu, who is 36 years old, left the provisional secessionist capital, Owen', on Jan. 9 or 10 for an unknown destination as the Biafran state, set up May 30, 1967, was on the point of collapse.


He handed over authority to Lieut. Col. Philip Effiong. The following week, Colonel Effiong negotiated the surrender of the secessionist forces, which had been battling the Nigerian army since the civil war broke out July 6, 1967.

The secessionist leader, who before his departure said he was leaving in order to have discussions about a peace settlement, was variously reported to have gone to Portugal, France or Zambia.

Nigerian reports earlier this month said that General Ojukwu fled on one of the last planes out of the enclave, disguised as a priest and on a stretcher.

On Jan. 15, the day that the surrender documents were signed in Lagos, and Biafra ceased to exist, General Ojukwu issued a statement saying that the secessionist state continued to live and that the struggle would be maintained.

Released in Geneva

That statement was released in Geneva and other capitals through a public relations con cern, but it was not known where General Ojukwu was at the time.

He said there was no food in the enclave, and appealed to the Nigerian leader, Maj Gen. Yakubu Gowon, to allow relief from abroad “to feed the hungry, to heal the sick and to save a whole people from complete annihilation.”

The Ivory Coast statement today called on newsmen to respect General Ojukwu's privacy and said that froth now on “he will refrain from taking up any position.” It added that the former secessionist leader's movements were not being restricted.

Referring to the Jan. 12 policy declaration, the announcement said, “It is according to this solemn principle that we accorded General Ojukwu the right of asylum when he arrived in Ivory Coast. It is according to this solemn principle that even though he remains entirely unrestricted in his movements, he will not take part in any political activity while in Ivory Coast.”

The statement, which did not disclose the date of General Ojukwu's arrival in the Ivory Coast, said the Government's wish was for a general reconciliation that “would allow the return of all those who have had to leave their country.”

Simplyleo:
Late ojukwu own was even better, at least he fought for some times before ran to ivory coast disguising as a woman. And he was granted asylum, which is in order.

Chimaraymond455:
Please my Yoruba friends is it true that awolowo committed suicide by taking rat poison? This rumor have been since flying all over nairaland?

Chimaraymond455:
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