Obasanjo Reflects on Pain of Nigerian Civil War

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo reflected on the Nigerian Civil War, which occurred from 1967 to 1970, during remarks made in Abeokuta. He expressed regret that Nigerians fought against each other, stating, "We shouldn’t have fought ourselves." Obasanjo noted that the civil war was significantly different from external conflicts, with the ultimate goal being peace, reconciliation, and unity rather than destruction.

He emphasized that the war caused immense pain, displacing millions and resulting in countless lives lost. Obasanjo urged Nigerians to embrace peace and dialogue to avoid future internal conflicts, drawing lessons from the civil war, which remains a significant and painful event in Nigeria's history.