Fifty-nine years after the Asaba Massacre, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has appealed for forgiveness and reconciliation, but the Asagba of Asaba, HRM Obi Epiphany Azinge, SAN, has insisted that there can be no closure for his people until a sitting Nigerian President publicly apologises for the 1967 killings.
The contrasting positions emerged on Wednesday at the 59th anniversary memorial in Asaba, Delta State.
Obasanjo participated virtually as chairman of the occasion, while the Convener of the Asaba Massacre Memorial, Chief Chuck Nduka-Eze, briefed stakeholders on preparations for next year’s 60th anniversary and efforts to establish a permanent Memorial Centre.
Obasanjo described the massacre as “one of the most painful, one of the most terrible aspects” of the Nigerian Civil War.
He said the war itself was an unfortunate event that should never have happened and revealed that he wept after receiving documents on the killings from Nduka-Eze.
“To all of you assembled: let us keep one thing in mind forgiveness, forgiveness, and forgiveness again,” the former president said.
The Asagba responded that the people of Asaba could forgive but would not forget. He declared: “There will be no closure, there will be no healing until a sitting President not an ex-President, but a sitting President publicly apologises to us.”
He noted that former military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, had apologised while out of office, but insisted that an apology from a serving President was needed for true closure.
Azinge also challenged Obasanjo’s “never again” appeal, recalling the Odi killings that occurred during the former president’s administration. “How long do we say ‘never again’? But it happened at Odi,” he said.
Despite the unresolved demand, the Asagba made a significant gesture of reconciliation by publicly proclaiming forgiveness for the family of Col. Ibrahim Taiwo, who was associated with the military operation.
He accepted an apology from Maj-Gen Ahmed Ibrahim Taiwo (retd.), the late colonel’s son, who said he had come to express “deepest regrets” on behalf of his father and family.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by Secretary to the State Government Dr Kingsley Emu, said researchers estimated that more than 1,000 people died in the massacre and stressed that the killing of unarmed civilians could never be justified.
He pledged continued support for national recognition of the tragedy and a fitting memorial.
Nduka-Eze emphasised that “Nigerian lives matter” and said preparations were underway for the 60th anniversary, including the actualisation of a permanent Memorial Centre for remembrance, documentation and education.
The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, also spoke on restitution, reconciliation and forgiveness.
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