Obasanjo Warns Nigeria Must Never Relive Civil War as He Revisits Asaba Massacre

(Former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Photo Credit: Premuim Times)

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday warned that Nigeria must never experience another civil war, saying many of the factors that led to the 1967–1970 conflict still exist within the country's institutions and among its people.

Obasanjo spoke at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while receiving a historical documentation on the Asaba Massacre from the Isama Ajie of Asaba, Chief Chuck Nduka-Eze.

The work, titled Asaba Massacre, comprises a published transcript and an audiovisual documentary based on eyewitness accounts, recorded interviews, archival materials, audiovisual documentation and historical research.

Speaking during the presentation, Obasanjo, who served as a military commander during the Nigerian Civil War, said he had always refrained from commenting extensively on the Asaba Massacre because the area was under the command of the late General Murtala Muhammed.

He commended Nduka-Eze for documenting the events, saying the work would contribute to preserving Nigeria's history and preventing a recurrence of such tragedies.

“We pride ourselves that we preserve the past, we capture the present and we inspire the future.

We capture the past, and this is the past; we want to capture it, we want to know about it.

I must confess, and you know that I was involved in the civil war. When people talk about the Asaba Massacre, I always confess that I cannot give details of it,” Obasanjo said.

The former president also recalled intervening during the war to prevent a soldier from r@ping a woman in Asaba, noting that such an act would have carried consequences of command responsibility.

Expressing concern over the country's current state, Obasanjo said many of the grievances that culminated in the civil war had yet to be fully addressed.

“Some of the things that led to the civil war are still on. Now, how long will this be with us?” he asked.

Recalling a remark by former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, Obasanjo said Nigeria might not survive another civil war.

“I was with a colleague when General Yakubu Gowon said, 'We will not survive a second civil war as a country.' I believe we have fought one civil war too many already.

So, to say that we will have a second civil war, God forbid. Getting ourselves to know some of what happened, and to say, yes, we condemn what happened that should not have happened, and then make sure that we do everything humanly possible to prevent its recurrence.

For us to be able to say, 'Never again,' what are we going to do? Thank you very much for making people know about it, for people to learn about it, and for people to take a vow that it should never happen again.

I say to you, never.I will do everything possible to ensure it never happens again,” he said.

Earlier, Nduka-Eze said the publication was the product of extensive research supported by eyewitness testimonies, recorded interviews, archival materials, audiovisual documentation and established historical scholarship.

According to him, the evidence consistently showed that after federal troops entered Asaba, then a civilian population centre in the Mid-West Region during the civil war, civilians were assembled in public places and instructed to affirm their loyalty to Nigeria by declaring "One Nigeria."

He said the evidence indicated that men were subsequently separated from women and children before unarmed male civilians were k!lled, despite complying with the instructions.

“The evidence establishes a recurring pattern. Civilians were assembled in public places under conditions of fear and uncertainty.

During these assemblies, residents were required to proclaim allegiance to the Nigerian State, including being instructed to declare 'One Nigeria' and otherwise demonstrate loyalty,” he said.

Nduka-Eze added that while the exact number of casualties could not be conclusively determined, available evidence pointed to the d£aths of more than 1,000 civilians and described the incident as a devastating tragedy for the Asaba community.

He also echoed Obasanjo's concerns, warning that many of the conditions that led to the civil war including ethnic mistrust and suspicion among Nigeria's diverse groups remain unresolved.