Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has urged Nigerians to use the country’s 65th Independence Anniversary as a moment for sober reflection, renewal, and national rebirth, stressing the need for unity, justice, and equity in the nation’s democratic journey.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator Azuta Mbata, congratulated Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora, noting that while the country has survived 65 years as a sovereign state, deep-rooted challenges continue to undermine progress.
“Nigeria at 65 should not just be a celebration of age, but a sober reflection on the quality of life of its citizens. For Ohanaeze and the Igbo nation at large, we remain deeply committed to the ideals of unity, love, peace, justice and national development—but not at the cost of our dignity or continued marginalization,” Mbata said.
In the statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ezechi Chukwu, the Igbo leader identified insecurity, economic hardship, youth unemployment, ethnic divisions, and the failure to fully realize the promises of nationhood as key issues confronting Nigeria.
He lamented that despite their industrious contributions to commerce, innovation, education, and culture, Igbos continue to face systemic exclusion, historical grievances, and limited political inclusion.
The group also renewed its call for the immediate and unconditional release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, describing his prolonged detention as “a blot on the conscience of the nation.”
“His case is no longer just a legal matter—it is a test of our collective commitment to justice, equity, and national healing,” the statement read.
Ohanaeze further decried what it described as the “willful destruction” of Igbo-owned businesses and investments in Lagos and other parts of the country under flimsy pretexts, warning that such targeted economic sabotage was unacceptable in a country that prides itself on unity.
“No nation can endure indefinitely when a section of its population feels alienated or reduced to second-class citizens. Nigeria must rise to a new dawn, where every child—whether born in Aba, Jos, Calabar, Katsina, Enugu or Kano—can aspire to lead, to thrive and to belong,” Senator Mbata emphasized.
The apex Igbo socio-cultural group called on the Federal Government to pursue constitutional reforms that would empower federating units and unlock their full potential, describing it as a “moral imperative” rather than just a political necessity.
Ohanaeze also appealed to leaders across the country to embrace governance with equity, empathy, and human kindness, while urging Ndigbo to remain peaceful, law-abiding, and committed to the spirit of Igwebuike—the belief that there is strength in unity.
Reaffirming its belief in dialogue, mutual respect, and genuine federalism as the pathway to a fair and prosperous Nigeria, Ohanaeze said the 65th anniversary should mark a turning point in the nation’s history.
“Let this 65th anniversary serve as a turning point—not just a ritual. Let it be the beginning of Nigeria’s rebirth,” the group declared.
