Godwin Udoh
After 52 years of gruesome murder of father, brothers, husbands and uncle, their kinsmen, the Asaba Development Union (ADU) demand for compensation of 1967 Asaba massacre.
President of the group, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, who is the Okilolo of Asaba, disclosed this to newsmen, in Asaba, Delta State capital, noted that to herald the remembrance of those killed 52 years ago, compensation would enable them get a more befitting place of rest for their departed.
ADU said though it would not approach the International Criminal Court (ICC) not because it could not file criminal and genocide cases against the individuals who collectively or otherwise perpetrated the act against the Asaba people, “We can push for that among so many other things”, but rather said unreserved and official apology with adequate compensation from the present Federal Government over the gruesome murder of our people in 1967.”
The group, however, noted that instead of the Federal Government allowing them to go through the rigorous of court proceedings by pushing through the ICC to initiate genocide and war grounds, the government of the day should rather negotiate and do the right thing timely, “as civilized people, we want the government of the day to start negotiating”.
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ADU said the compensation would not in any way replace the pains inflicted on them by the massacre nor make them forget the remembrance of their loved ones.
They further disclosed that 52 years counting, Asaba still mourns and would continue to mourn until we believe that there is a closure as far as the matter is concerned as the massacre has created a wide gulf that demands closure by way of compensating the families, “that is the closure that we seek. Even if there is a closure, we will continue to mourn our heros.
“And the closure that we seek is the closure of a much more official apology, the closure of adequate compensation to the families of the bereaved as the case may be but even if we achieve those closures as to the two things that we demand, we will continue to remember our fallen heroes”.
The group added that people should not to read extra meaning to their beliefs, noting that no amount of contrary views would also deter them from commemorating their dear ones, “and nobody should also imagine that we can be stopped from doing what we are doing because it’s totally and fully within our rights so to do”.
Prof Azinge said, the day is not exclusively meant for indigenes of Asaba, but for people across board where such awkward deaths occurred.
“It is another way of saying never again to such killing not for only Asaba but all over the country.
Those who suffers same fate in Odi, Benue and other places particularly Asaba. We are not set to suffer it again”, he sounded.
“It is another way of saying never again no matter what the situation is, of what happened in this country.
“Our messages is never again, not never again only in Asaba but again for any part of the country.
“Never will it be wise for people to be congregated in one place and be shutdown in cold blood, never again, we are not prepared to suffer it again”, adding that the affairs touch on humanity and mankind and all lovers of human rights.
“And all those who believe that there should be rule of engagement for the military that they should be stopped from going on a wide goose chase and killing of innocent citizens.”
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Prof. Azinge hinted that the event which would begin on October 7 at the Ogbesowe quarter where the heinous massacre and genocide took place, would proceeds to the Oshimili south Arcade with the shutdown of markets in Asaba aimed at paying tributes and respect to the fallen ones and also to avoid interruption of any kind, pointing out that proper notices have been sent and approvals given by the relevant authorities.
The procession is aimed at drawing to the consciousness of the people and the government at all levels to the fact that Asaba people takes very seriously the massacre of their loved ones and that something unacceptable happened on that day, stressing that the day would also serves as a unity factor for all Asaba people around the globe.
“For those that will be with their children, it will be an opportunity for them to educate them and tell them that 52 years ago in your home town, in Asaba, something of this nature happened so that the young ones will also continue very early in their developmental stage to internalize and imbibe this message and also have it in their consciousness that which we want to achieve”.
