Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has warned that many of the conditions that led to Nigeria’s 1967–1970 Civil War remain unresolved, cautioning that the country must do everything possible to avoid another conflict. He stressed that Nigeria cannot survive a second civil war.
Obasanjo made the remarks in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while receiving a historical publication titled Asaba Massacre, compiled by Chief Chuck Nduka-Eze, Chairman of the Asaba Memorial Trust. The publication documents the killings of civilians in Asaba during the Nigerian Civil War through eyewitness accounts, archival records, interviews and audio-visual materials.
Reflecting on the conflict, Obasanjo said he participated in the civil war but could not give a detailed account of the Asaba Massacre, explaining that military operations in that area were under the command of the late General Murtala Muhammed. He promised to study the materials presented to him.
He warned that many of the divisions and grievances that contributed to the war still exist, saying:
“Some of the things that led to the civil war are still with us today… We have fought one civil war too many already.”
Obasanjo urged Nigerians to confront painful aspects of the nation’s history honestly, condemn past atrocities, and work together to ensure such events never happen again, emphasizing that national unity and reconciliation remain essential for lasting peace
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