Ohanaeze Ndigbo Declares Annual Thanksgiving Day To Commemorate Igbo Survival Of Nigeria-Biafra Civil War

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has officially designated the last Sunday of every January as an annual thanksgiving day to commemorate the survival of the Igbo people during the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War of 1967–1970. The resolution was unanimously adopted during the group’s Imeobi meeting held at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Enugu.

Announcing the decision, Ohanaeze’s Deputy President General, Prince Okechukwu Nwadinobi, explained that the thanksgiving day is meant to acknowledge what the organisation describes as divine intervention that spared the Igbo from total annihilation during the war. He stated that all Igbo people are encouraged to attend church services on the chosen day to express gratitude to God for preservation and survival amid the horrors of the conflict.

Nwadinobi noted that the leadership of Ohanaeze, under Senator Azuta Mbata, considered it necessary to institutionalise the annual thanksgiving, stressing that without God, the support of a few Nigerians, and intervention from the international community, the Biafran cause and the Igbo people might not have survived. He recalled that the war was marked by deliberate attempts to wipe out Biafra, making survival itself a profound historical milestone worthy of remembrance.

Beyond the thanksgiving initiative, Nwadinobi outlined several interventions undertaken by the current Ohanaeze leadership to safeguard Igbo interests nationwide. These include a high-level delegation to Lagos over the demolition of Igbo-owned businesses in Festac Town and the Trade Fair Complex, engagement with affected traders after the Mandilas Plaza fire incident, and the formation of professional teams to guide Igbo entrepreneurs on best business practices.

He also disclosed a new partnership between Ohanaeze and Otu Oka Iwu, a body of legal experts, aimed at providing free legal services to Ndigbo on issues affecting their welfare and rights.

In a goodwill message, former Archbishop of the Enugu Anglican Communion, Dr. Emmanuel Olisa Chukwu, welcomed the resolution, describing it as spiritually significant. Recounting his near-death experience during the war, including the Asaba genocide, the cleric said the decision resonated deeply with the Igbo people, whom he described as deeply religious and sustained by faith through decades of hardship.

Southeast Leaders Split Over Ekweremadu’s Proposed Transfer to Nigeria

Regional leaders in Nigeria’s Southeast are sharply divided over the Federal Government’s plan to transfer former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu from a UK prison to a Nigerian correctional facility, Punch reported on Sunday, November 16, 2025.

While some see the move as a positive humanitarian gesture, others believe it is politically motivated and unnecessary.

° “Let Him Finish His Sentence in the UK” — INC President

Chilos Godsent, President of the Igbo National Council (INC), strongly criticized the transfer proposal.
He questioned the timing and suggested the initiative may be linked to political strategies ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said the Federal Government showed little interest during Ekweremadu’s trial but is suddenly eager to intervene, raising suspicions.

According to Godsent:

“It is better to allow him to serve his term in the UK, where he was found guilty.”


He also feared that Ekweremadu might face harsher conditions or renewed legal battles if brought back to Nigeria.

Some Southeast voices compared the government’s urgency in Ekweremadu’s case to its refusal to release IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, despite repeated demands.

This contrast, they argue, shows inconsistency and bias in handling issues affecting the Igbo people.


Meanwhile, influential leaders have applauded the move.
The Deputy President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo praised the initiative as sincere and welcomed the Federal Government’s intervention.

Similarly, the Abia State PDP Chairman urged Nigerians to judge the move based on national interest, not speculation.

Tinubu Declares: “Nigeria’s Worst Days Are Over” As Imo Hosts Landmark Projects

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured Nigerians that the country’s hardest times are behind it, emphasizing that the nation is firmly on the path to recovery.

During his one-day working visit to Imo State, Tinubu commissioned the Owerri-Umuahia Road, Assumpta Flyover, and Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Conference Centre. He also unveiled Governor Hope Uzodimma’s book “A Decade of Impactful Progressive Governance in Nigeria”, describing it as a record of the APC’s journey.

Tinubu highlighted positive economic strides, noting that:

GDP grew by 4.23% in Q2 2025

Inflation dropped to 20.1% from 24.5% earlier this year

Foreign investors are regaining confidence


He urged Nigerians to remain patient as reforms take root, praised Uzodimma’s leadership, and thanked Imo residents for their continued support.

Meanwhile, other major developments across Nigeria include:

Rivers State Government cancels Independence Day parade in line with FG directive.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo insists Nnamdi Kanu’s detention equals “keeping Ndigbo behind bars,” calling for his release.

Atiku Abubakar explains absence at Olubadan’s coronation, citing protocol issues, but later paid a personal visit to congratulate the monarch.

Ohanaeze President Calls for Nnamdi Kanu’s Release, Urges Igbos to Register to Vote

Senator John Azuta-Mbata, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has appealed to the Federal Government to release the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to allow him access to proper medical care.

In a video message shared on Thursday, Azuta-Mbata also urged Igbos across Nigeria to actively participate in the ongoing voter registration exercise and obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

Azuta-Mbata emphasized that Kanu’s prolonged detention has been a major source of political and security tension in Nigeria. Kanu was initially arrested in 2015 on charges of treasonable felony, jumped bail in 2017, and fled the country. He was rearrested in Kenya in June 2021 during a controversial operation by Nigerian security operatives and has since been held by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Calling for a political resolution, Azuta-Mbata stated that the Federal Government gains no advantage from continuing Kanu’s detention. He stressed the importance of safeguarding Kanu’s welfare and providing him with medical attention.

He said,

“I’m calling upon Ndigbo—wherever you are in Nigeria—to take advantage of the voter registration exercise going on now. Go and get your PVCs as quickly as possible.

“Secondly, I urge the Federal Government to release Nnamdi Kanu. There is no real advantage in keeping him detained. The government must ensure his safety and allow him to receive medical treatment promptly. A political solution should be pursued, as continued detention serves no meaningful purpose.”

Azuta-Mbata’s remarks underscore the ongoing calls for a resolution to one of Nigeria’s most contentious political issues while encouraging civic engagement among Igbos ahead of upcoming elections.

Ohanaeze Youth Faction Demands Disbandment of Anambra Security Outfit Over Assault on Female Corps Member

August 20, 2025 | News

A faction of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing has called on Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo to immediately disband the state’s security outfit, Udo Ga-Achi, after its operatives were filmed assaulting and stripping Jennifer Elobor, a female NYSC member.

The footage sparked nationwide outrage, with rights groups condemning the brutality.

In a statement, factional leader Mazi Okwu Nnabuike described the outfit as a “long-standing menace,” citing repeated cases of rights violations, jungle justice, and trial by ordeal. He stressed that civil society groups had long raised alarms about the unit’s excesses without action being taken.

The group demanded:

Disbandment of the current outfit.

Fresh recruitment and training for new operatives.

Mandatory drug testing for all recruits.

Public trial of those involved in the assault.

Compensation for Ms. Elobor from the state government.

Okwu warned that failure to act decisively would only embolden further abuse of power by the operatives.

JUST IN; The President of the socio-cultural group in Lagos State, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Solomon Ogbonna Aguene, has stated that Igbos living in Lagos State are allegedly being disenfranchised and excluded from voting in the ongoing local government elections.

Ohanaeze Leader Condemns Exclusion of Igbos in Lagos LG Polls.

Dr. Solomon Ogbonna Aguene, President of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos State, has condemned what he described as the continuous m@rginalisation of the Igbo community in the state’s local government elections.

Speaking from his Ikoyi residence on Saturday, Dr. Aguene expressed concern over the recurring exclusion of Igbos from the political process in Lagos. He alleged that many Igbo residents were either denied the right to vote or deliberately shut out from fully participating in the elections.

He further claimed that the political system in Lagos systematically blocks Igbo candidates from contesting key positions such as council chairmanship and councillorship, despite their substantial contributions to the state’s development.

“It has become a trend,” he said. “Igbos in Lagos are regularly denied the opportunity to vote or run for office. Despite our economic and social impact, we are rarely given meaningful representation.

At most, you may find one or two Igbos as vice chairmen, but even that is rare.” Dr. Aguene criticised the political atmosphere in Lagos and Nigeria more broadly—saying it falls short of democratic principles like fairness and equal representation.

He accused political elites of hij@cking the system and s¥ppressing the people’s will, which, according to him, fuels voter apathy. He called for a more inclusive and equitable political structure that acknowledges the rights and contributions of all ethnic groups, particularly those who have invested heavily in Lagos.

Late Ohanaeze Ndigbo leader, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu reportedly bars his wife from remarrying in his will or risk losing her inheritance.