Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has warned that Nigeria must never be allowed to descend into another civil war, stressing that many of the issues that triggered the 1967–1970 conflict still exist within the country’s institutions and among its people.
Obasanjo made the remarks on Wednesday at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during the presentation of a historical documentation on the Asaba Massacre by the Isama Ajie of Asaba, Chief Chuck Nduka-Eze.
The publication, titled Asaba Massacre, consists of a written transcript and an audiovisual documentary compiled from eyewitness testimonies, recorded interviews, archival records, audiovisual materials, and extensive historical research.
Reflecting on his role during the Nigerian Civil War, Obasanjo, who served as a military commander, said he had always been cautious about commenting 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, describing the work as an important contribution to preserving Nigeria’s history and ensuring that future generations learn from the country’s past.
According to Obasanjo, understanding historical events is essential to preventing similar tragedies in the future.
“I must confess that I was involved in the civil war. Whenever people talk about the Asaba Massacre, I always admit that I cannot provide details because it was outside my command,” he said.
The former president also recalled an incident during the war in which he intervened to stop a soldier from attempting to rape a woman in Asaba, noting that such misconduct would have carried serious consequences under military command responsibility.
Expressing concern over Nigeria’s present situation, Obasanjo said many of the grievances that contributed to the civil war have not been fully addressed.
He recalled a conversation with former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, who warned that Nigeria would not survive another civil war.
“I believe we have fought one civil war too many already. The thought of another civil war is something we must reject completely. God forbid it ever happens again,” Obasanjo said.
He urged Nigerians to study the country’s history, acknowledge past mistakes, condemn acts of violence against civilians, and commit themselves to ensuring that such events never recur.
Obasanjo emphasized that preserving historical records and educating future generations are crucial steps toward promoting national unity and lasting peace.
Earlier, Chief Chuck Nduka-Eze explained that the publication was the result of years of research supported by eyewitness accounts, interviews, archival documents, audiovisual evidence, and established historical scholarship.
According to him, the available evidence showed that after federal troops entered Asaba, then part of the Mid-West Region during the civil war, civilians were gathered in public places and instructed to demonstrate loyalty to Nigeria by declaring “One Nigeria.”
He said men were then separated from women and children before many unarmed male civilians were killed despite complying with the instructions.
Nduka-Eze noted that while the exact death toll remains uncertain, available evidence indicates that more than 1,000 civilians lost their lives in what he described as one of the most devastating tragedies experienced by the Asaba community.
He also warned that many of the conditions that contributed to the civil war, including ethnic distrust, suspicion, and divisions among Nigeria’s diverse communities, remain unresolved and require urgent national attention.
Obasanjo Warns Nigeria Against Another Civil War, Says Root Causes Remain Unresolved
