Nigeria must not be plunged into another civil war -Justice Odilli

Justice Mary Odili has warned against speeches or actions that could plunge the county into another civil war which took the lives of millions of Nigerians about 55years ago.

Nigeria, she noted is currently in an ‘Emergency Situation’ which according to her necessitated her reminder.

Against the backdrop, Odili now a retired Judge from the Supreme Court bench having attained the mandatory 70 years of age further warned that the re-occurrence of that ugly incident in the country must be avoided by all means.

The jurist spoke at a valedictory Court session organized by the Supreme Court to mark her retirement from bench yesterday.

While recalling the experiences of the 1967 – 1970 Nigerian civil war, Odili whose residence was invaded by some  security personnel in the January 15th 1966 Coup, described the experience as bitter.

She said, “During the war we survived the air raids with the bombers and fighters as low as the height of fruit trees with me catching the eyes of the pilots on an occasion,” she said.

Justice Odili noted further that she brought  this period of her life up “not to whip up animosities  or  negative feelings but to call to the mind of all and sundry the emergency situation which now faces the nation.”

“Some of the actions or speeches that propelled the unfortunate war which took the lives of millions of our people are being re- enacted at this time.

She also lamented that the good initiatives and potential of old and young people of that period have been thrown overboard instead of deploying them to good use.

On restructuring, she said the country should not ignore or “lost the opportunity to set the ship of state on the right course,” adding “a stitch in time saves nine.”

Speaking earlier, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CNJ), Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad extolled Odili’s virtues, describing her as a beacon of strength for African women.