Obasanjo Warns Civil War Triggers Still Unresolved, Urges National “Never Again” Resolve

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday warned that several of the underlying issues that led to Nigeria’s 1967–1970 civil war remain unresolved, cautioning that the country must take deliberate steps to prevent a repeat of such a devastating conflict.

He made the remarks while receiving a collection of research materials, books, videos, and eyewitness accounts documenting the Asaba Massacre and related events at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), presented by Chief Chuck Nduka-Eze, Chairman of the Asaba Memorial Trust and the Asaba Image Branding and Project Committee.

Obasanjo described the possibility of another civil war as “unthinkable,” insisting that Nigeria had already experienced “one civil war too many.”

“What went wrong in the past is essential to preventing a repeat. We must do everything humanly possible to prevent its recurrence,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to collectively embrace a firm “never again” stance on civil conflict, warning that unresolved tensions that contributed to the past war were still visible in the country today.

“Some of the things that led to the Civil War are still with us. How long will this remain so?” he asked.

Recalling discussions with former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Obasanjo noted that Gowon had warned that Nigeria would not survive another civil war, stressing the need for unity and restraint.

“I believe we have fought one civil war too many already. To say that we will have a second civil war, God forbid,” he stated, adding, “We must understand what happened, condemn what should not have happened, and do everything humanly possible to prevent its recurrence… I will do everything possible to ensure that there is never again a civil war in this country.”

The former president, who fought in the civil war as a military officer, commended efforts to document historical events such as the Asaba Massacre, noting that proper archival work is essential for national healing and unity.

He added that the mission of the OOPL is “to preserve the past, capture the present, and inspire the future.”

Obasanjo also clarified that he could not give detailed accounts of the Asaba Massacre, explaining that the sector was under the command of the late Gen. Murtala Mohammed, though he recalled intervening at one point to prevent a soldier from assaulting a civilian and emphasised that abuses were not officially sanctioned.

Presenting the materials, Chief Chuck Nduka-Eze said the compilation includes eyewitness testimonies, interviews, archival records, and academic works detailing the events in Asaba following the arrival of federal troops, during which civilians were reportedly assembled and male residents later separated and killed despite declaring loyalty.

He estimated that over a thousand men were killed, describing it as a deep wound in the community, and linked the tragedy to longstanding ethnic suspicion, unresolved grievances from Nigeria’s first military coup, and lack of accountability.

He further warned that many of the pre-war tensions that fuelled the civil war remain present today, with continued mistrust among different groups in the country.

Obasanjo said he would study the materials and reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that such tragedies are never repeated in Nigeria’s history.

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