Mazi Nnamdi Kanu Conferred Honorary Georgia Citizen by U.S. State
Mazi Nnamdi Okwu Kanu, the kidnapped leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been formally conferred Honorary Citizenship of the State of Georgia, United States of America, alongside recognition as a Goodwill Ambassador by the U.S. state’s Secretary of State.
The proclamation, issued by Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s Secretary of State, was signed on January 16, 2026 and presented on January 23, 2026, in Milledgeville, Georgia, by State Representative Gab Okoye.
According to the official document, Kanu was declared an “Honorary Georgia Citizen” and designated an “Outstanding Citizen” who should be “accorded every courtesy as a Goodwill Ambassador from Georgia” in any future travels, whether within the United States or abroad.
The honour was received on Kanu’s behalf by Ambassador Uche Ajulu-Okeke, former Nigerian Consul General in South Africa, who acknowledged the distinction from the State of Georgia.
She described Kanu as “Africa’s most famous political prisoner and a global prisoner of conscience,” reflecting strong support from his international backers.
Kanu was kidnapped from Kenya in June 2021, by the Nigerian government and tortured for 8 days before forcefully brought into Nigeria in what has been described as the crime of extraordinary rendition by the Nigerian government.
Despite rulings by courts of competent jurisdiction ordering his immediate release, including decisions by the Abuja Court of Appeal and the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Nigerian government has refused to free him.
On November 20, 2025, the Nigerian government sentenced him to life imprisonment over his campaign for the self-determination of the Biafran region through a United Nations supervised referendum, which the state described as treasonable offences, an allegation he has consistently challenged.
He maintains that the laws under which he was tried do not exist and had repeatedly asked the trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, to identify the specific law under which he was being prosecuted, a request the judge reportedly ignored.
Supporters of Kanu have welcomed the Georgia honour, seeing it as a significant symbol of international recognition and solidarity with his cause, even as debates continue over his conviction and broader political questions in Nigeria.
News of the honour was shared by Kanu’s wife, Lolo Uchechi Okwu-Kanu on social media and has since gone viral, attracting nearly 800 comments within hours as supporters and observers reacted to the development.
One user, Chigozirim Okeke, wrote:
“The man whose only crime was standing up for his people. The Nigerian government tagged him a terrorist, while the world recognizes him as honourable. Congratulations to IPOB leader, Ohamadike, Lord MNK.”
Another commenter, Gina Eby Okoli, described Kanu as:
“An icon born to liberate and serve his people selflessly.”
Reacting with irony, Daniel Olisa wrote:
“While many are receiving visa restrictions, MNK just received citizenship 😂”
Similarly, Izuchukwu Chukwuraa Salt questioned the Nigerian government’s stance, stating:
“You jailed someone for ‘terrorism,’ yet a civilized country like America is granting the same so-called ‘terrorist’ honorary citizenship.”
The honorary citizenship and goodwill ambassador designation, while symbolic, signal political and global attention on Kanu’s situation, extending beyond Nigerian borders.
Whether this recognition influences ongoing legal processes or broader discussions about political activism and democratic governance in Nigeria remains a subject of public and diplomatic interest.
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