He was Biafra's President for only 4 days
On this day, Wednesday November 18, 1925, Philip Effiong, the man who would later become the first Vice President and the second and last President of the defunct Republic of Biafra, was born in Ibiono Ibom (British Nigeria) in today's Akwa Ibom State.
Effiong took over as the President of Biafra after Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu went into exile.
He joined the Nigerian Armed Forces in July 1945 and was commissioned by the UK to serve in the British occupation forces in Rhine, West Germany. Later, he was transferred to the Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps and soon after went to England for further training.
He became Nigeria's first Director of Ordnance and rose through the ranks to become the Chief of General Staff of Biafra and ultimately the second and final President of the Republic of Biafra.
Following Odumegwu Ojukwu's flight to Côte d'Ivoire, Effiong assumed leadership of Biafra on January 8, 1970 for four days before surrendering on January 12, 1970.
Then, on January 15, 1970, he delivered a speech at Dodan Barracks in Lagos that marked the reintegration of the Republic of Biafra into Nigeria. He believed the situation was hopeless and that prolonging the conflict would lead only to more destruction and starvat!on for the people of Biafra.
He would have been exactly 100 years old today, but he passed away on November 6, 2003, in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria, at the age of 77.
On this day, Wednesday November 18, 1925, Philip Effiong, the man who would later become the first Vice President and the second and last President of the defunct Republic of Biafra, was born in Ibiono Ibom (British Nigeria) in today's Akwa Ibom State.
Effiong took over as the President of Biafra after Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu went into exile.
He joined the Nigerian Armed Forces in July 1945 and was commissioned by the UK to serve in the British occupation forces in Rhine, West Germany. Later, he was transferred to the Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps and soon after went to England for further training.
He became Nigeria's first Director of Ordnance and rose through the ranks to become the Chief of General Staff of Biafra and ultimately the second and final President of the Republic of Biafra.
Following Odumegwu Ojukwu's flight to Côte d'Ivoire, Effiong assumed leadership of Biafra on January 8, 1970 for four days before surrendering on January 12, 1970.
Then, on January 15, 1970, he delivered a speech at Dodan Barracks in Lagos that marked the reintegration of the Republic of Biafra into Nigeria. He believed the situation was hopeless and that prolonging the conflict would lead only to more destruction and starvat!on for the people of Biafra.
He would have been exactly 100 years old today, but he passed away on November 6, 2003, in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria, at the age of 77.
He was Biafra's President for only 4 days
On this day, Wednesday November 18, 1925, Philip Effiong, the man who would later become the first Vice President and the second and last President of the defunct Republic of Biafra, was born in Ibiono Ibom (British Nigeria) in today's Akwa Ibom State.
Effiong took over as the President of Biafra after Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu went into exile.
He joined the Nigerian Armed Forces in July 1945 and was commissioned by the UK to serve in the British occupation forces in Rhine, West Germany. Later, he was transferred to the Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps and soon after went to England for further training.
He became Nigeria's first Director of Ordnance and rose through the ranks to become the Chief of General Staff of Biafra and ultimately the second and final President of the Republic of Biafra.
Following Odumegwu Ojukwu's flight to Côte d'Ivoire, Effiong assumed leadership of Biafra on January 8, 1970 for four days before surrendering on January 12, 1970.
Then, on January 15, 1970, he delivered a speech at Dodan Barracks in Lagos that marked the reintegration of the Republic of Biafra into Nigeria. He believed the situation was hopeless and that prolonging the conflict would lead only to more destruction and starvat!on for the people of Biafra.
He would have been exactly 100 years old today, but he passed away on November 6, 2003, in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria, at the age of 77.
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