By Austin Ogwuda
THE Asagba of Asaba, Obi (Professor) Epiphany Azinge has called on President Bola Tinubu to take deliberate step to persuade the people of Asaba to put the whole event 7th October 1967 massacre behind them.
The Asaba monarch, on a visit to Presidential Villa on Thursday explained to Mr President why the wounds have refused to be healed, 58 years after.
His words, “Mr President, a visit from Asaba will never be complete if we don’t draw your attention to the enduring pain we bear as a result of the massacre of over 1000 Asaba men, women and children on 7th October, 1967.
“The wounds have refused to heal because no attempt has been made in the last 58 years to officially bring a closure to the dastardly event. We are optimistic that Mr President, as a listening and caring leader, can talk to Asaba people and persuade them to put the whole event behind them”.
On the Second Niger Bridge, the Asabgba said, “Mr. President, we must not fail to acknowledge and appreciate the recent Federal government approval for construction of access roads to the Second Niger bridge. This is surely going to open up Asaba to investment and development. Equally acknowledged is the gas pipeline to run through Ughelli, Ajaokuta and extended through Alifikede and Asaba to Awka with the aim of opening up the routes to economic exploration.
“We thank Mr President for these gestures and urge that the Rail Line for the Coastal areas be extended to pass through Asaba. In the same vein, we plead that the Benin-Asaba Expressway be rehabilitated for smooth and safe traffic flow on the road. Likewise, may I humbly draw your attention to the road which is a major gateway from Asaba to Abuja and that is the road running from Asaba through Illah, Ebu, Ubiaja and then to Uromi.
“Presently, work is ongoing at the Ubiaja axis. Our prayer, Mr President, is that the Asaba, Illah and Ebu axis be added to the construction process. This will undoubtedly reduce, to a large extent, the time of traveling from Asaba to Abuja”, he stated.
The Asagba also harped on the role of traditional rulers under the Constitution.
Said he, “Your Excellency, I cannot end my speech without soliciting your support for a role for traditional rulers under the constitution. My experience on the throne have revealed the significant importance of the traditional Institutions in the affairs of this country.
“A constitutional imprimatur”, he went on, “will go a long way in motivating traditional leaders to make more meaningful contribution for peaceful coexistence of their subjects and others domiciled in their territory.
“Time also have come to seriously place a pride of place on the traditional administration of justice as a means of settlement of disputes in our land. May I urge that a Committee be set up to review the relationship between the received laws in our legal system and the indigenous method of dispute resolution”, the Asagba added.
