Nigeria Will Not Be Able To Survive Another Civil Way – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has warned that Nigeria cannot survive another civil war, urging leaders and citizens to learn from the country’s painful history to prevent a repeat of the 1967–1970 conflict.

Obasanjo made the remarks on Wednesday in Abeokuta during the public presentation of a book on the Asaba massacre and related events, authored by Chuck Nduka-Eze, Chairman of the Asaba Memorial Trust and the Asaba Image Branding and Project Committee.

The former president stressed that many of the issues that triggered the civil war remain unresolved, making it imperative for Nigerians to confront the past and work towards lasting peace.

“Nigeria will not be able to survive another civil war,” Obasanjo said, recalling that former Head of State Yakubu Gowon had also warned that the country would not endure a second civil war.

“I believe we have fought one civil war too many already. To say that we will have a second civil war—God forbid. We must understand what happened, condemn what should not have happened, and ensure that it never happens again,” he added.

Obasanjo commended Nduka-Eze for documenting the events surrounding the Asaba massacre, describing the effort as vital for preserving history, promoting national healing and educating future generations.

He said preserving historical records remains one of the key objectives of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, adding that understanding the past is essential to building a united and peaceful Nigeria.

Reflecting on his role during the civil war, Obasanjo acknowledged serving as a military commander but noted that operations in Asaba were under the command of former Head of State Murtala Mohammed. He explained that he was later assigned responsibilities towards the end of the conflict to help prevent further civilian killings.