The essential David Mark @ 69

The story of the immediate past President of the Senate, Senator David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark, his military and political career, albeit his steady rise to the top cannot be written completely in one book.

This is just an attempt, a line in the intermediate chapter of the still unfolding narrative of Mark’s highly eventful sojourn on earth.

History is replete with such narratives of great men and women who, in spite of their backgrounds, made it to the very top of their chosen professions or careers. We are familiar with the cliché, “from  grass to grace”, story of people rising above the circumstances of their births to become great personalities in the society. Senator Mark unarguably belongs to this class. He rose from a hitherto obscure  Otukpo rural community in the present day Benue State to the zenith of his profession. As a soldier, he belonged to the elite class and was indeed successful, rising to the rank of a  Brigadier General before he left the crispy “khaki” uniform for the “Agbada”.

As a politician, he made his mark to the admiration of both friends and foes. Till date, he remains the only Nigerian living or dead who has contested senatorial election six times and won in the same corresponding number.

Mark was the president for the sixth and seventh Senate (2007-2011 and 2011 -2015) when he demonstrated considerable maturity in leading his colleagues and  managing national issues creditably. He was dubbed “Mr Stability” for stabilising the Senate and the National Assembly that was hitherto a theatre of musical chairs.

It is instructive to note that the return of Mark for the 6th record time  to the Senate took a long and tortuous path and was often laden with frustrations and intrigues. To begin with, the reasons given for the nullification of that March 28, 2015 senatorial election was not worth the paper it was written on. Many wondered why the tribunal could not resolve the mere discrepancy in date between the day election was held and the date which appeared on the result sheet.

Whereas it could have been an oversight on the part of the electoral officials for no fault of Mark, but it cost him an avoidable re-run, the test of his popularity and the will of the Idoma people. The return of Mark reinforced his mystique, often criticised as a mere fluke sustained by his military background and strong loyalty to the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). That election and its outcome brought to the fore so many things about his integrity and leadership qualities; above all,  the unwavering commitment of the Idoma people of Benue state and leaves a big lesson for  others .

In the Senate today, Mark is the most ranking member and has garnered a whole lot of experience not just as a member of the Red Chamber, but as President of the Senate Emeritus. Undoubtedly, the quality of debate on motions and bills will always benefit from the insights and experience of Mark to sustain good governance. No doubts, he represents a reference icon on both local and international issues that may confront the upper legislative chamber nay the National Assembly from time to time . Although, he maintains a dignified silence in the chamber for now, he, nonetheless, offers useful advice to his colleagues, especially the leadership from time to time.

Many political pundits have severally described Mark as a pragmatist, a magnet that moves both friends and foes into his enchanting orbit, a man whose flame and fame continues to illuminate, a pan- Nigerian, a true nationalist and political strategist of no mean standing. He has proven to be a man of immense political sagacity.

Born on the 8th day of April 1948 in Otukpo, Otukpo Local Government of Benue State of Nigeria, he started his early education at St. Francis Catholic Practising School, Otukpo from 1956-1961. He later proceeded to the prestigious Nigerian Military School (NMS) Zaria from 1962-1966 thereby setting the tone for his ambition for a military career.

Lt-Colonel Mark was appointed military governor of Niger State. His tenure was characterised by brilliant ideas, bold actions and courageous initiatives which set Niger State on the path of development. As Minister of Communications in 1988, he revolutionalised the communications sector in Nigeria by introducing mobile phones and digital telephone system in the country.

He reorganised NIPOST and started the city coding system. The Nigeria Telecommunications (NITEL) was removed from the Civil Service Structure and staff welfare package was improved significantly. He also built two ultra-modern digital earth stations in Lagos and Enugu from internally generated revenue without recourse to the Federal Government fund.

Mark returned to Nigeria from self-exile in 1998 to a tumultuous, thunderous reception by his people. They instantly declared him their political leader and he responded to the yearnings and aspirations of his people. He joined the PDP and had the privilege of contesting election into the Senate. He was successfully elected as the senator representing Benue South Senatorial District in 1999. Senator Mark was returned by his people in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015. In June, 2007, fortune smiled on Mark when he was elected the President of the Nigerian Senate. During his tenure, a new phrase was added to Nigeria’s political lexicon on Tuesday, 9th February, 2010 when Senator Mark and his colleagues tested extant laws of the land in order to forge a bailout for Nigeria’s continuous existence as one nation through the invocation of the Doctrine of Necessity. That singular act ended the political logjam that had gripped the nation prior to the emergence of a new leadership. On several occasions, Mark’s interventions and wise counsel have rescued the nation from the precipice.

In the Senate, Senator Mark is widely popular for his belief in true democracy and rule of law. His political and social ingenuity in handling bills and motions have always been to the admiration of his colleagues in both the Senate and the House of Representatives as well as Nigerians who keenly watch his democratic dexterity. As the then Senate President, he handled the affairs of the Red Chamber with a deftness that carried every one along; he left no one in doubt as to the fact that the success of the Parliament lies in the team work that prevailed in the Senate.

Mumeh, media aide to former Senate President David Mark, writes from Abuja.