Asaba massacre: Obasanjo urges reconciliation, monarch demands presidential apology

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for forgiveness and reconciliation in relation to the 1967 Asaba massacre, describing it as one of the most painful aspects of the Nigerian Civil War. According to Obasanjo, the war was an unfortunate event that should never have happened. He urged the people of Asaba to forgive and work towards reconciliation.

The Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, responded to Obasanjo's appeal, stating that while the people of Asaba may forgive, they will not forget the tragedy. Azinge demanded a public apology from a sitting President to bring closure to the matter. He noted that former military Head of State, retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon, had apologized while out of office, but a sitting President's apology was still needed.

Obasanjo had emphasized the need for forgiveness, saying "let us keep one thing in mind, forgiveness, forgiveness, and forgiveness again." However, Azinge maintained that forgiveness did not necessarily mean forgetting, and that a presidential apology was necessary for healing to occur, as per the Daily Post Nigeria.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch, Punch Nigeria, Daily Post Nigeria — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.