The Asagba of Asaba, Epiphany Azinge, has called for a public apology from a sitting Nigerian president over the 1967 Asaba massacre, saying forgiveness alone will not bring closure to the community.
His demand came at Wednesday’s 59th-anniversary memorial in Asaba, where Delta Governor Sheriff Oborevwori pledged support for national recognition of the killings and a permanent memorial.
Punch reported that Oborevwori, represented by Secretary to the State Government Kingsley Emu, said the Federal Government would make a formal reconciliation declaration. That was the governor’s account; the report did not announce that such a declaration had already been issued.
Azinge said the community could forgive without forgetting. Vanguard reported that he publicly proclaimed forgiveness for the Taiwo family after an apology from retired Major-General Ahmed Ibrahim Taiwo, whose father was associated with the military operation during the massacre.
Taiwo said he was apologising on behalf of his father and family and hoped the gesture would begin reconciliation. Punch reported that he had spent years researching his father’s role before deciding to apologise.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo participated remotely and urged forgiveness. Azinge maintained that an apology must come from a serving president, rather than a former officeholder, to meet the community’s demand.
The monarch also challenged Obasanjo’s appeal that such killings should never happen again, referring to the Odi killings during his presidency, according to Vanguard.
The proposed Asaba Massacre Memorial Centre would preserve victims’ names, testimonies and records, Emu said in Punch’s report. Vanguard reported that preparations were already underway for next year’s 60th anniversary and efforts to establish the centre.
Sources: Punch, Vanguard
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