Philip Effiong
Philip Effiong| |
| Order: | 2nd President |
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| Term of Office: | January 8, 1970–January 12, 1970 |
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| Predecessor: | Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu |
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| Successor: | none |
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| Date of Birth: | Monday, November 18, 1925 |
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| Place of Birth: | Akwa-Ibom, Nigeria, British Empire |
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| Date of Death: | November 6, 2003 |
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| Place of Death: | Aba, Nigeria |
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| First Lady: | Josephine Efiong |
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| Profession: | soldier & Igbo rights advocate |
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| Political Party: | Mil |
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| Vice President: | none |
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| As Vice-President |
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| Order: | 1st Vice President |
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| Term of Office: | May 30, 1967–January 8, 1970 |
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| Predecessor: | none |
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| Successor: | none |
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| President: | Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu |
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Philip Effiong (
November 18,
1925 –
November 6 2003), also spelled
Efiong, was the first
Vice President and the second and last
President of the now defunct
Republic of Biafra, during the 30-month
Nigeria-Biafra civil war of 1967 to 1970.
Born Obong Philip Effiong in the
British West African colony of Nigeria, Effiong joined the Nigerian Armed Services on
July 28,
1945. He quickly rose through the service ranks until
January 11,
1956 when he received the
Queen's Commission after his officer cadet training at Eaton Hall in Chester. England later comminsioned him for duty in the
Rhine in
West Germany. Effiong was then transferred to the Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps and then to
England for further training after a peace keeping stint in the
Republic of Congo in 1961.
During the Nigeria-Biafra war, Effiong became Vice-President of Biafra under President Odumegwu Ojukwu.
Even before the war, the area was net importer of food, depending on income from its oil fields to feed its populace. The tactics of the
Nigerian military during the war included economic blockade and deliberate destruction of agricultural land. This led to mass dislocation and starvation of the populace. Two to three million people are thought to have died in the conflict, mostly through starvation and illness.
When Biafra's military resistance collapsed, Ojukwu fled to the
Côte d'Ivoire.
It was in this situation of turmoil, starvation, and collapse that Effiong assumed leadership. Effiong became president of Biafra on
10 January 1970 and on
12 January announced surrender.
At the time of the surrender, Effiong believed that the situation was hopeless and that prolonging the conflict would have led only to the further destruction and starvation of the people of Biafra. At that time Effiong said, "I am convinced now that a stop must be put to the bloodshed which is going on as a result of the war. I am also convinced that the suffering of our people must be brought to an immediate end." [
1]
To the surprise of many in the outside world, threatened reprisals and massacres did not occur after the surrender, and genuine attempts were made at reconciliation. At least part of the credit for this situation must go to Effiong's leadership and diplomacy at this crucial moment.
In a 1996 interview, Effiong reflected on those events:
I have no regrets whatsoever of my involvement in Biafra or the role I played. The war deprived me of my property, dignity, my name. Yet, I saved so many souls on both sides and by this, I mean Biafra and Nigeria. . . .
I felt that I played a role which has kept this country united till today. . . .
At the end of it all when I saw they (Biafran soldiers) could no longer continue and Ojukwu had fled, I did what was ideal after wide consultation . . . [
2]
Effiong died
November 6 2003, at the age of 78 years, not long before he would have turned 79 on
18 November.
Sources
*"Bidding farewell to 2003",
Daily Times of Nigeria,
January 7 2004*
The Biafra-Nigeria Civil War of 1967-70*http://www.philip-effiong.com/Dad-Memory The site of Philip Effiong the Second
