FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has cautioned that many of the factors that triggered Nigeria’s Civil War remain unresolved, urging Nigerians to ensure the country never experiences another such conflict.
Speaking in Abeokuta during the presentation of Asaba Massacre, a historical account by Chief Chuck Nduka-Eze at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Obasanjo stressed that Nigeria could not survive another civil war.
Recalling a statement by former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon, he said the nation had already paid too high a price through the first war and must do everything possible to prevent history from repeating itself.
Obasanjo emphasized the importance of preserving historical records so future generations can understand the past and learn from it.
He said acknowledging painful events is necessary if the country is to genuinely commit to the principle of “Never Again.”
Reflecting on his own role during the civil war, Obasanjo explained that he could not provide detailed information about the Asaba Massacre because the area was under the command of General Murtala Muhammed at the time.
He however pledged to review the evidence presented in the book and its accompanying audiovisual materials.
He also recounted intervening to stop a soldier from assaulting a woman during the conflict.
Author Chief Chuck Nduka-Eze said the publication is based on extensive research, including eyewitness accounts, interviews, archival records, audiovisual evidence, and historical studies.
According to him, the evidence consistently shows that after federal troops entered Asaba, civilians were gathered and required to declare loyalty to Nigeria before many unarmed men were separated from their families and killed.
Although the exact number of casualties remains uncertain, he said credible evidence reveals that more than a thousand civilians lost their lives.
Nduka-Eze also warned that the ethnic mistrust and divisions that contributed to the civil war still exist today, underscoring the need for reconciliation, national unity, and deliberate efforts to prevent a recurrence of such tragedy.
