Obasanjo Reflects on Civil War Decision to Save Lives

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo recounted his pivotal decision not to shell Owerri, Imo State, during the final days of the Nigerian Civil War, which he claimed saved many Igbo civilian lives. Speaking at a colloquium titled "Burden of Blessing in Leadership," held in Abeokuta to mark his 89th birthday, Obasanjo reflected on the heavy burden of leadership and the profound implications of his choices.

He commanded the Third Marine Commando Division at the war's end in January 1970, facing a humanitarian crisis with hundreds of thousands of starving civilians. He emphasized that no textbook prepared him for the moral weight of leadership decisions, which often do not distribute the burden evenly.

Obasanjo also highlighted the importance of making unpopular decisions for the greater good, recalling his experiences under military dictatorship and his subsequent election as president in 1999, where he aimed to improve Nigeria's socio-economic conditions.