in 1978 after olusegun obasanjo's military regime lifted the ban on independent political activity, the ohanaeze ndigbo organization was formed, an elite umbrella organization which speaks on behalf of the igbo people. their main concerns are the marginalization of the igbo people in nigerian politics and the neglect of indigenous igbo territory in social amenities and development of infrastructure. other groups which protest the perceived marginalization of the igbo people are the igbo peoples congress (ipc). even before the 20th century there were numerous igbo unions and organizations existing around the world, such as the igbo union in bathurst, gambia in 1842, founded by a prominent igbo trader and ex-soldier named thomas refell. another was the union founded by the igbo community in freetown, sierra leone by 1860, of which africanus horton, a surgeon, scientist and soldier, was an active member.