Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has warned that Nigeria still faces conditions similar to those that led to the 1967–1970 civil war, urging citizens and leaders to take deliberate steps to prevent a recurrence.
Speaking in Abeokuta on Wednesday while receiving historical materials on the Asaba Massacre, Obasanjo described the prospect of another civil war as “unthinkable,” stressing that Nigeria had already fought “one civil war too many.”
“What went wrong in the past is essential to preventing a repeat. We must do everything possible to ensure it never happens again,” he said.
The materials, compiled by the Asaba Memorial Trust, document eyewitness accounts and evidence of the massacre, where hundreds of unarmed civilians were reportedly killed during the war.
Obasanjo emphasized the importance of preserving history, noting that understanding past events is critical for national healing and unity. He also acknowledged his role as a soldier during the war but said he could not provide detailed accounts of the Asaba incident, as it occurred under a different command structure.
He recalled intervening in cases of misconduct by soldiers, stressing that abuses were not condoned and highlighting the importance of accountability in leadership.
Providing insight into the research, project leader Chief Chuck Nduka-Eze said the documentation presents consistent evidence of civilians being gathered, separated, and killed despite pledging allegiance to Nigeria. He noted that more than a thousand men were believed to have died, describing it as a “profound rupture” in the Asaba community.
Nduka-Eze identified ethnic mistrust, unresolved grievances, and lack of accountability as key factors behind both the massacre and the broader civil war, warning that many of these issues remain unresolved today.
Obasanjo called for a collective national commitment to a “never again” principle, urging Nigerians to confront history, address divisions, and work towards lasting unity.
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