WELCOME ADDRESS OF VICE PRESIDENT GENERAL
ASABA DEVELOPMENT UNION(ADU) ON ASABA MEMORIAL DAY
His Royal Majesty Asagba Prof Chike Edozien JP, NNA AGU
OBI IGWE-NUO
Olikeze Uwaoma
My lords spiritual and temporal
Distinguished ASABA Sons & Daughters
All invited Guest.
I welcome you whole heartedly to this historical gathering to mark Asaba Memorial Day. Precisely, 43 years ago, a very sad event took place in this town. Event that broke the peace and serenity of our beloved ASABA.
The evil fang and embers of war descended heavily upon us, leaving in its trail the bullet ridden dead bodies of our dearly beloved fathers, brothers, uncles, and loved ones in a least expected military putsch. Yes it was least expected because the victims were neither soldiers nor Para military rather, they were civilians who have excelled in their various chosen endeavors but were compelled to return to their home town Asaba with the hope of finding succor from the raging killing in Nigerian cities. This was as a result of the coup of 1996.
October 7th 1967 was a day that witnessed the shedding of innocent blood of great Asaba sons and daughters, the day our mothers and wives were forced to bury their husbands, male children and brothers in a shallow grave. A great and unprecedented sacrifice for our dear country Nigeria.
The blood of these fallen heroes was used to cleanse the sins of that period and to day Nigeria is one in Unity.
We have made the sacrifice, we shall also forgive but we shall nor forget.
We are here therefore to remember and honor these great Sons of Nnebisi to immortalize and pray that their soul shall continue to rest peacefully as martyr of our great project “NIGERIA.”
We shall build a monument at the spot in Ogbeosowa to immortalize them. Our brothers and sisters should please assist.
May we therefore worship together in their ever green memory. We shall also have lecture from our great Son, Prof. E.A.C. Nwanze the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin.
May the Almighty God Bless us all with the fortitude to bear this unforgettable loss.
Thank you
Ogbueshi E.U.D. Ijeh
Vice-President General
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