Obasanjo Warns of Recurring Causes of Nigeria's Civil War

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo warned that some factors triggering Nigeria's civil war in 1967 are still present today, stressing the need for efforts to prevent a recurrence of such conflict. He made these remarks while receiving a book and research materials related to the Asaba massacre from Chuck Nduka, Chairman of the Asaba Memorial Trust.

Obasanjo highlighted the significance of preserving historical documents to help the nation learn from its past and ensure that tragedies like the civil war do not happen again. He acknowledged the role of soldiers during the civil war but did not provide detailed accounts of the Asaba incident.

Obasanjo recalled an instance where he intervened to prevent a soldier from assaulting a civilian. He reiterated the importance of leadership accountability during wartime and noted that former Head of State Yakubu Gowon publicly acknowledged the excesses of the war.

Obasanjo emphasized that Nigeria must collectively work to prevent another civil war.