The Federal Government is poised to make a formal declaration of reconciliation regarding the Asaba Massacre, which occurred during the Nigerian Civil War in 1967. This announcement was made by Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori at a memorial event marking the 59th anniversary of the tragic incident, where hundreds of civilians lost their lives.

Governor Oborevwori, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu, emphasized the importance of the Federal Government's acknowledgment of the massacre as a crucial step towards reconciliation. He noted that Delta State had already recognized the tragedy and expressed hope that the national government would follow suit. "An official acknowledgment 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 stated.

The governor reiterated that the state government would continue to advocate for national recognition of the massacre and the establishment of a memorial to honor the victims. He stressed that remembering the past is not an attack on the nation but a necessary step towards healing. "Never again should ethnicity, suspicion or political conflict become a license for the killing of innocent people," Oborevwori urged.

The memorial event also featured remarks from the Asagba of Asaba, Prof Epiphany Azinge, who highlighted the community's capacity to forgive but insisted on the need for a public apology from a sitting President to achieve full closure. "We have moved on, but there will be no closure and no healing until a sitting President of Nigeria publicly apologises to the Asaba people," Azinge declared.

In a heartfelt moment, Maj-Gen Ahmed Ibrahim Taiwo (retd.), son of an Army officer linked to the massacre, offered an emotional apology to the people of Asaba. He shared that he had spent years researching his father's role in the events and expressed hope that his gesture could contribute to reconciliation. "I cannot change what happened, but I believe and pray that this gesture can be a step towards reconciliation," Taiwo said.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who sent a recorded message to the memorial, described the Asaba Massacre as one of the most painful chapters of the Nigerian Civil War. He urged Nigerians to embrace forgiveness, reflecting on his emotional response upon learning about the massacre. "Never again will such a black and unpleasant day occur in Nigeria or anywhere else in Africa," he stated.

Chief Chuks Nduka-Eze, the Isama Ajie of Asaba and convener of the memorial, emphasized that the central theme of the commemoration was the value of Nigerian lives, questioning why the full extent of the civilian killings in Asaba had not been adequately addressed. The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, added that the journey towards healing must include truth, justice, and restoration before forgiveness can take place.

Dr Emu also announced plans for a memorial center to honor the victims, which will preserve their names, testimonies, and records for future generations. He stated, "We have survivors. We have testimonies. We have names, even if they may not yet be exhaustive." This initiative aims to ensure that the memory of those lost in the massacre is never forgotten, as the people of Asaba continue to seek reconciliation and healing from the scars of their past.