By training, a military officer is expected to bear pains and control his emotions even when he is overwhelmed. . But this was not the case with Brigadier General David Mark, (retd), who has since embraced democracy. David Mark was elected into the Nigeria Senate since 1999 and was elected the Senate President about eight years ago and since then, the once upon a time turbulent Senate has witnessed relative peace. In what may be viewed as a recognition of his leadership qualities, people from his constituency recently mounted pressure on him to continue to represent them in the senate by contesting the 2015 National Assembly elections which he has won the primary on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. They bought the form for him and during the presentation, he got emotional and couldn’t hold back tears. Unlike in the Western countries where experience and competence are the main consideration in electing people to the parliament, the reverse is the case in Nigeria as consideration most times is on monetary gains, hence, Senators with experience are sacrificed on the altar of zoning. However, in the 109 senate membership only two Senators, David Mark who incidentally is the Senate President and Bello Gwarzo, the Chief Whip representing Kano North have retained their seats since 1999 till date, thereby making them the most experienced Senators. Senator Mark was a military officer who rose to the rank of Brigadier General before his retirement. He has remained one of the most experienced Senators in Nigeria in the senate since his foray into the political field and has steered the ship of the senate as the senate President for two terms of eight years. His leadership qualities and his ability to utilize his position for the peace and unity of the country as well as attracting quality projects to his constituents has endeared him to his people who in a way to reciprocate his quality representation recently besieged his Otukpo country home, Benue state last month with a Peoples Democratic Party nomination /expression of interest forms. The Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, led scores of the political leaders from the nine local government areas that made up the senatorial district to the Benue State secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party in Makurdi where they had earlier deposited N4.250m to purchase the forms for Mark. Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Moro, said the people of the senatorial district were overwhelmed by the outstanding performance of Mark in the senate and therefore decided to return him in 2015 to continue the good job. He commended the nine council chairmen who bought the forms on behalf of their people, assured them that Mark would not disappoint his people. Also in the league of those that urged the Senate President to go for re-election was a representative of the Civil Society Groups Mr. Philip Agbese, who recalled the efforts of Senator Mark during the January 2012 protest against the removal of fuel subsidy.. Agbese said, “Nigeria was falling at that time and it appeared the country was going to collapse because the civil society groups had mobilised millions of Nigerians to occupy major towns of the country, marching and organising rallies with workers, students, artisans and market women. “It was as if Nigeria would not remain a single nation again until our own Senator David Mark intervened and Nigerians were back to work again.” The Interior Minister while handing the form to Senator Mark , “The Senate President has provided a shield, and a refuge for the Idoma people. He has widened the political landscape of the Idoma kingdom. The idoma people have agreed that no person has all it takes to do the work that the senate president is doing now. “He has represented us equitably. The combination of President Goodluck Jonathan and David Mark had given us the required leadership. Senator Mark has saved Nigeria from confusion, and collapse through the doctrine of necessity.” The Deputy Governor of Benue State, Chief Steve Lawani, said the endorsement of the Senate President was a confirmation of the position of the state government because of Mark’s unprecedented achievement in the Senate. While accepting the nomination form from his kinsmen, Mark, who lost control of his emotions after the outpouring of encomiums from his own people, fought back tears as he collected the microphone to respond to the honour given him by his constituents. He told them, “This is the covenant with my people. This endorsement speaks volume of the immeasurable responsibility on my shoulder by my people. For this trust and confidence repose on me, I cannot afford to fail. Let us work together as a team. I am prepared to give the last paint of my blood to serve my people diligently.” Assuring his people that the sacrifice they have made would not go in vain, he said, “This project is not about David Mark, it is about the future, it is about our senatorial zone. It is about our generation yet unborn, it is about tomorrow. I won’t take your honour for granted.” The senate president continued to betray emotion after his speech as he intermittently cleaned tears of joy from his face following of the overwhelming crowd surging to have a handshake with him and his wife, Helen at the event.
Posted on: Sat, 13 Dec 2014 06:03:14 +0000
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