Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday warned that many of the conditions that caused the Nigerian Civil War still persist, cautioning that the country may not survive another armed conflict.
He stated this at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta while receiving a historical publication titled Asaba Massacre from the Isama Ajie of Asaba, Chief Chuck Nduka-Eze.
The publication, presented in both print and audio-visual formats, documents the killings of civilians in Asaba during the Nigerian Civil War.
According to the author, the work draws on eyewitness testimonies, archival records, recorded interviews, audio-visual evidence and historical research.
Reflecting on his own role during the civil war, Obasanjo said he could not give a detailed account of the Asaba killings because the military operations in the area were under the command of the late Murtala Muhammed.
“I was involved in the civil war, but whenever people ask me about the Asaba massacre, I always tell them I cannot give details because Murtala Muhammed was responsible for operations in that area,” he said.
The former president disclosed that he had previously been questioned about Muhammad’s role during the conflict but maintained that he was not in a position to comment.
He, however, promised to study the materials presented by Nduka-Eze.
Obasanjo stressed that Nigeria must learn from its history, warning that many of the national faultlines that led to the 1967–1970 conflict still exist.
“Some of the issues that led to the Civil War are still with us today. I once heard General Yakubu Gowon say Nigeria would not survive a second civil war, and I completely agree.
“We have fought one civil war too many already. God forbid that this country should ever experience another,” he said.
Obasanjo called on Nigerians to sincerely confront painful aspects of the nation’s history, condemn past atrocities and work collectively to ensure they never happen again.
“We must know what happened, admit what should never have happened, and do everything humanly possible to prevent a recurrence.
“We must all take a vow that it will never happen again,” he added.
Sharing one of his personal experiences from the war, he recalled preventing a soldier from sexually assaulting a woman in Asaba, saying such actions could have left commanders morally and legally accountable for the conduct of their troops.