The Asagba of Asaba, Professor Epiphany Azinge, has called for a public apology from a sitting Nigerian president over the 1967 Asaba Massacre, saying such an acknowledgment is necessary to bring closure to survivors and victims’ families.
Speaking at the massacre’s 59th anniversary memorial in Asaba on Wednesday, the traditional ruler said the community could forgive those involved without forgetting the tragedy.
His remarks followed an appeal by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who participated virtually as chairman of the occasion, urging survivors and bereaved families to embrace forgiveness and reconciliation.
“We may not forget, but certainly, we have to forgive,” Azinge said.
He recalled that former military Head of State Yakubu Gowon had apologised after leaving office, but maintained that an apology from a serving president remained necessary.
“We need a sitting president to apologise to Asaba people; that will bring closure,” he said.
Obasanjo had described the massacre as one of the most painful and terrible episodes of the Nigerian civil war. He said the war was an unfortunate event that should never have happened.
The former president disclosed that he wept after receiving documents about the massacre from Chuck Nduka-Eze, the Isama Ajie of Asaba and convener of the memorial.
“To all of you assembled: let us keep one thing in mind, forgiveness, forgiveness, and forgiveness again,” Obasanjo said.
He urged the people of Asaba to pursue reconciliation while working to prevent a recurrence of such atrocities.
Azinge, however, questioned the former president’s “never again” appeal, pointing to the Odi killings during Obasanjo’s administration.
“Coming from him, I was a bit taken aback. How long do we say ‘never again’? But it happened at Odi,” the monarch said.
He stressed that remembrance, justice and reconciliation remained necessary, even though the community had moved forward.
“From the going down of the sun till the morning, we will always remember them,” he said.
While renewing the demand for a presidential apology, Azinge publicly announced that the Asaba community had forgiven the family of Ibrahim Taiwo, who was a Nigerian Army colonel during the massacre.
“On behalf of the Asaba community, and as the prescribed authority, the Asagba of Asaba, I hereby publicly proclaim that we have forgiven the Taiwo family,” he said.
The monarch said the community had accepted an apology from retired Major-General Ahmed Taiwo, who expressed regret on behalf of his father and family for any act, omission or commission that contributed to the massacre.
Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori also condemned the killings, saying researchers and community historians estimated that more than 1,000 people died.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Kingsley Emu, the governor stressed that the victims’ civilian status left no justification for their killing.
“Let us speak clearly: the killing of unarmed civilians can never be justified,” he said.
Oborevwori pledged continued support for national recognition of the massacre and the establishment of a fitting national memorial.
The memorial’s convener, Nduka-Eze, said preparations were underway for the 60th anniversary in 2027, with renewed efforts to establish a permanent memorial centre.
“The message we’ve been sending about the Asaba Massacre is that Nigerian lives matter,” he said.
He added that the forthcoming anniversary would offer another opportunity to tell the story to Nigerians and the international community.
Enotie Ogbebor, son of then-Colonel Paul Ogbebor, who was credited with intervening to save lives during the tragedy, called for global remembrance of the massacre.
He said the proposed memorial would remind humanity that innocent lives should never be unjustly taken.
The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, also addressed the gathering on restitution, reconciliation and forgiveness.
... “Forgiveness, Forgiveness, And Forgiveness Again” — Obasanjo Appeals To Asaba Massacre Families, Asagba Demands Presidential Apology ... TheNigeriaLawyer.