Asaba Massacre: Asaba People Deserve Formal Apology, Says Asagba

The Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Obi (Prof.) Epiphany Azinge (SAN) has emphasised the request for a befitting nationalist monument successful honour of the victims of the Asaba massacre, reaffirming that the Asaba radical merit a ceremonial apology from a sitting president for the injustice of the killings.

The monarch made the telephone connected Tuesday portion starring thousands of indigenes successful a solemn remembrance ceremonial marking the 58th day of the October 7, 1967, killings of hundreds of Asaba citizens during the Nigerian Civil War, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immortalise the victims of the Asaba massacre 58 years after.

He urged the President to immortalise them done an authoritative statesmanlike apology and found a Federal University successful Asaba.

Renewed calls for nationalist designation of the victims, astatine precisely 12 noon, the Asagba led a infinitesimal of soundlessness successful honour of the victims, describing them arsenic “true martyrs whose humor watered the onshore and gave beingness to the city’s maturation and prosperity.”

“The erstwhile rustic, quiescent municipality by the River Niger has contiguous transformed into 1 of the fastest-growing superior cities, not lone successful Nigeria but successful sub-Saharan Africa.

“Asaba has progressed due to the fact that of the humor of our sons and daughters massacred 58 years ago. They are martyrs we proudly place with, our forebears and the closest ancestors we tin subordinate to. As we determination libations today, we invoke their spirits arsenic ancestors successful their ain right,” helium stated.

“We indispensable person a fitting memorial for them. We merit an apology from the Nigerian government, and we request a Federal University established present successful Asaba successful their memory,” helium insisted.

Also speaking, the Isama Ajie of Asaba, Chief Chuck Chukwuemeka Nduka-Eze, described the remembrance arsenic “a historical and indispensable enactment of honour.”

“From contiguous henceforth, Asaba volition observe a one-minute soundlessness each October 7 astatine 12 noon to honour our radical who were killed successful the Asaba massacre. A 21-gun salute volition people the juncture arsenic a awesome of our corporate respect,” helium declared.

Chief Nduka-Eze further noted that the yearly remembrance would henceforth beryllium portion of Asaba’s authoritative taste calendar.

“We person been speaking astir the massacre to rise awareness, and it is present clip to institutionalise this successful our city’s calendar,” helium said.

“When we met with the President, we raised each our concerns. Although helium was soundless connected the Asaba massacre, it does not mean helium is unaware. We bash not retrieve it with choler but with reflection, due to the fact that it is what the surviving beryllium the dead,” helium said.