1967 Asaba Massacre: Prof Azinge Gives Conditions For Total Healing

1967 Asaba Massacre

 

OpenLife News reports that the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, says the Asaba people have forgiven but will not forget the 1967 Asaba Massacre, insisting that only a public apology by a sitting President can bring total healing and closure.

Prof. Azinge stated this on Wednesday at the 59th anniversary memorial of the massacre in Asaba, where hundreds of people were killed during the Nigerian Civil War.“We have moved on,” the monarch said, but added that “there will be no closure and no healing until a sitting President of Nigeria publicly apologises to the Asaba people.”

Meanwhile, Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, revealed that the Federal Government is set to make a formal reconciliation declaration over the tragedy.

Oborevwori, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kingsley Emu, said an official acknowledgement by government was critical to reconciliation.“An official acknowledgement by the respective governments is critical.

“Delta State has acknowledged the tragedy. Nigeria will acknowledge it, and we believe the world will also acknowledge it,” he said.

“A formal reconciliation declaration will be made by the Nigerian government, and we are hopeful that this will happen.”

The governor said the state would continue to push for national recognition of the massacre and a befitting national memorial, stressing that remembering the tragedy was not an attack on Nigeria.

“Never again should ethnicity, suspicion or political conflict become a licence for the killing of innocent people,” he said, urging the younger generation: “Do not inherit its bitterness; inherit its lessons.”

In an emotional moment, Maj-Gen Ahmed Ibrahim Taiwo (retd.), son of late Maj. Ibrahim Taiwo, an Army officer linked to the events, tendered an apology to the people of Asaba after years of researching his father’s role.“I cannot change what happened, but I believe and pray that this gesture can be a step towards reconciliation,” he said.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in a recorded message, described the massacre as “one of the most painful and disturbing aspects of the Nigerian Civil War” and called for forgiveness, saying he wept after reading documents on the killings.

“Never again will such a black and unpleasant day occur in Nigeria or anywhere else in Africa,” Obasanjo said.

The Isama Ajie of Asaba and convener of the memorial, Chief Chuks Nduka-Eze, said the central message was that “Nigerian lives matter,” questioning why the country had yet to fully explain the killing of civilians.

The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, said Nigeria must pursue truth, justice, restoration and healing before forgiveness.“There must be truth. There must be justice. There must be healing. And then, forgiveness can follow,” he said.

Dr. Emu added that the proposed memorial centre would preserve the names, testimonies and records of victims for future generations.“We have survivors. We have testimonies. We have names, even if they may not yet be exhaustive,” he said, noting that the people of Asaba have endured and emerged stronger, and that reconciliation is about forgiveness, not revenge.