₦airaland Forum

THE Northern Senators Forum, NSF, yesterday, endorsed Senator David Mark, for the Senate Presidency with a warning to Governor Danjuma Goje that he would be humilated if he dared to contest against Mark.

The endorsement of Mark was conveyed at a press conference addressed by executive members of the NSF in the National Assembly complex in Abuja.

More support also came for Mark from Senator-Elect Ifeanyi Okowa who said that the combination of Mark and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, remained the best to guide the Senate in the next four years.

Okowa spoke to Vanguard moments after collecting his certificate of return during which he affirmed that there was no support for Goje among his first term colleagues entering the Senate.

Addressing Senate correspondents, Chairman of the NSF, Senator Dahiru Umaru, said Mark had brought stability and respect to the Senate in the last four years and should, therefore, be allowed to continue.

In an apparent reference to the role of money in Nigerian politics, the Northern senators said they could not be bought, saying any candidate who come out against Mark would be "humiliated."

Mark vs Goje

Though it is speculated that the outgoing Governor of Gombe State and Senator_elect, Goje, had ambition to run for the Senate presidency he is, however, yet to declare publicly.

Senator Dahiru Umaru, alongside other members of the forum, told journalists that they had decided to support the incumbent president, Mark, and his Deputy, Ekweremadu, for another term because of the stability, maturity and rare qualities they had both exhibited in the last four years.

Umaru said the ability of Mark to hold the country together with the support of the Senate during the political logjam occasioned by the ill_health and consequent demise of the late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua had endeared him to senators and Nigerians at large.

He said: " We are only hearing and reading in the media that Danjuma Goje would be running for the office of the Senate president but as far as we are concerned, we are not aware because he has not declared nor has he told any one of us that he is interested.

"We, therefore, can say authoritatively that nobody is contesting against David Mark."

Also speaking, vice chairman of the NSF, Senator Smart Adeyemi, said: " The Senate is not a place where you can just bring money and have your way. We are going to humiliate him if he decides to run, we only know that the incumbent Senate president is the only person contesting and we are here to endorse his candidature."

Responding to a question on the level of assurance that the incoming senators would toe their line of endorsement, Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Ahmed Lawan, told journalists: "We are the best people to tell the incoming senators that David Mark is the best choice, because we even voted for him when we knew so little about him, but now we are in the best position to speak of his ability to run the Senate."

Senator-elect Okowa speaking to Vanguard moments after collecting his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said that none of the senators-elect has been informed by Governor Goje that he is running for the Senate top job, adding: "I have been in contact with the most of the senators-elect. Nobody has told me that Goje has asked him for support."

He said: "Senator David Mark has my full backing, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has my full backing, if you watch I have not been in the Senate before, but in the past four years, relate that past four years to our first eight years you will see that these two persons provided leadership of integrity, leadership that provided some level of humility and leadership that tended to involve everybody."

Emenike, 24, signed the contract reportedly worth around 7 million euros, on Wednesday, to end speculation about his future.   The fee will rise to 9 million euros if Emenike moves from Fenerbahce.   The Nigerian joined Karabukspor from FC Cape Town in 2009. His 16 goals were a key factor as the club not only secured promotion to the Turkish Super Lig, but also claimed the first division title.   He also picked up the award for the best foreign player.   Fourteen goals in his first season in the Turkish Super Lig was enough to see his stock rise, with admiring glances coming from as far afield as Germany and Italy.   But the Nigerian has opted to remain, in Turkey, where he will join international skipper Joseph Yobo at the Istanbul giants.

WAKE UP & JOIN D WINNING TRAIN NOW!

the thing is that i dnt have time 4 ur type' u belong 2 our past!! r.i.p!!

@Enjoyo and your likes " R.I.P!

I CAN C YOUR FRUSTRATION, JOIN THE WINNING TRAIN NOW !!! ALL OPPOSITION LEADERS AND THEIR FOLLOWERS LIKE YOU  IN ZONE C OF BENUE STATE ARE NOW OF BLESSED POLITICAL MEMORY! THANKS TO DOOR TO DOOR FOR MARK 2011!!

I CAN C YOUR FRUSTRATION, JOIN THE WINNING TRAIN NOW !!! ALL OPPOSITION LEADERS AND THEIR FOLLOWERS LIKE YOU IN ZONE C OF BENUE STATE ARE NOW OF BLESSED POLITICAL MEMORY! THANKS TO DOOR TO DOOR FOR MARK 2011!!

@egift and Lagosboy' DOOR2DOOR FOR MARK 2011 is the form of campaign style used by Sen. David Mark 2 win the whole nine local govt in his Senatorial District.

we are victorious by his grace!

IN DEFENCE OF THE NECESSITY FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF STABILITY AND CONTINUITY IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
 
The Nigerian State is positively reprocessing her statute- dignity in the Comity of Nations with the conduct of the on-going commendable elections. For the first time in almost twenty years, this generation of the country’s leadership is providing the double credibility of conducting credible elections and upholding their unhindered announcements. In our recent past, the unfortunate trend had been either the conduct of very free and fair elections followed with unprecedented assault of mindless cancellation as occasioned by the June 12 debacle or the entrenchment of electoral heist and state collaborated selections called election particularly under the last electoral umpireship.

 

Today the current presidency in its bid to provide the electoral process with some level of national followership and confidence, appointed an almost unblemished INEC leadership that has been nationally and internationally celebrated. In the same guise, the leadership that has been produced in the aftermath of the elections has also been adjudged acceptable by the meaningful percentage of the voters in their respective electoral jurisdiction.

 

President Goodluck Jonathan and the Professor Attahiru Jega led INEC must be commended for this shift in national redirection. We must not forget to put in perspective, the resonating confidence that the process has brought not only to the Nigerian State, but particularly to her people and the mass of minority groups within the state. Today on the basis of fairness and rejection of the majority mantra, we have leaders from hitherto unimagined and unacceptable “little areas” occupying the highest positions in the land.

 

Nigeria is now working and her people are working. Removed from the above, we have a National Assembly that is synonymous with stability under the able leadership of the indefatigable Senator David Mark. The fact that under his leadership, the usual turbulence of leadership mistrust in the National Assembly was permanently laid to rest is worthy of national celebration. Most importantly that he hails from a minority group holding together leaders from every part of Nigeria in an institution that is famous for its unprecedented leadership turnover under previous leaders is extraordinary.

 

It is in defence of the need to maintain and further this stable, performing and peaceful National Assembly that we are calling on all Senators-elect and well meaning Nigerians to support Senator David Mark to continue as the nation’s next President of the Senate of the Federal Republic. Our quest is not above board, rather it is in line with the spirit of maintaining the status quo as agreed by the leadership of the PDP upon the death of our dear late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua that his successor should complete their joint ticket and mandate while maintaining the subsisting zoning arrangement.

 

Therefore we are anchoring our demand on the following unmatched records of the National Assembly under the leadership of Senator David Mark:

 

·        First Senate President since our return to democracy in 1999 to hold forth for the entire duration of the 4 year term;

 

·        First Senate President since 1999 not to have had even a notice of impeachment  proceeding tabled against him;

 

·        First Senate President to lead the National Assembly arguably since Independence to twice alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;

 

·        First Senate President since 1999 to maintain cordial and manageable relationship between the National Assembly and the Executive Arm on the one hand and the other leaders of the National Assembly on the other hand;

 

·        The First Senate President of Nigeria since 1999 to assume the position truly as a very ranking Senator and now one of the very few longest serving Senators of the land since then;

 

·        The first Senate President to handle a constitutional succession crisis situation without blemish following the protracted illness and death of late President Umaru Yar’Adua with the application of the concept of the doctrine of necessity, a purely judicial theory extrapolated to the legislature with practical success and national acceptability that resolved a country’s imminent march towards system dysfunctionality and or collapse. It is the fruit of that extraordinary feat that we are enjoying today as a   rooting democracy;

 

·        One of the few Senate Presidents from the Minority groups in Nigeria since Independence to have assumed the position with a formidable political and leadership antecedence;

 

·        The first Senate President of the Federal Republic since 1999 to have maintained earnest, good working and political relationship with his home state Governor. Senator David Mark is an embodiment of national and sub-national stability. It would be a great deal for the unity and stability of Nigeria for him to continue as the next President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

 

Speak out for continuity and stability.

Talk to a Senator to vote for Senator Mark as the next President of the Senate of the Federal Republic.

 

Appeal to the Senator – elect from your Senatorial District to vote for Senator David Mark as the President of the Senate.

 

Thank you all.

 

Signed:

 

Comrade J. O OCHE

Volunteer cordinator

 

Door2Door Volunteer Organization for

Senator David Mark 2011

08167766444

07068777722

The Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko on Tuesday commended the National Assembly for rising to the occasion when the nation was on the edge of a precipice by putting in place legislations that restored sanity.
 
Dr Mimiko spoke in Akure while receiving Senate President, Chief David Mark in his office during a courtesy call recalled that the members of the National Assembly performed creditably well at a very critical time when the nation was on the edge by coming up with the Doctrine of Necessity, which he noted to pilot the nation to a safe berth.
 
He was full of kind words for Mark, who he described as a “stabilizer for our polity”, one who brought to bear on the Office of the Senate President, his wealth of experience and humility and “most importantly, mental dexterity to pilot the affairs of the Senate at the national Assembly”.

According to Governor Mimiko: “ When we were perched at the edge of a precipice, when everybody thought the end was coming, people like you , calling on your experience, came up the Doctrine of Necessity to pilot the nation back on the right path. For me, that was the height of the performance of the Senate and the National Assembly and our people, our Senators have no hesitations whatsoever for you to sit and continue to pilot the affairs of the Senate.”
 
The Governor equally thanked the management of the national Assembly for choosing Ondo State as one of the venues for the on-going Induction Workshops for elected members of the National Assembly saying that it had been a wonderful experience and a tacit show of “confidence in the capability our State and the ambience of our State to host these distinguished Nigerians.”
 
Earlier in his remarks, the Senate President had commended the giant strides and the groundswell of encomiums being poured on Governor Mimiko owing to the spate of developmental projects he had put in place in the space of two years in office saying that ``Ondo State under the labour Party government of Dr Olusegun Mimiko is working and we are glad to be associated with Your Excellency’s achievements. We want to let you know that we will give you all the necessary support to move Ondo State forward. I know Your Excellency personally and I am sure that you are more than capable of giving dividends of democracy to the people and for us we have no misgivings that the people of Ondo State have decided to be in Labour Party; that is their preference and we are sure that Governor Mimiko is capable of giving the best to democracy to the people
 
Mark who disclosed that he was in the State to see his colleagues who are in the State for their Induction Workshop noted that he came to pay homage to the host, Dr Olusegun Mimiko whom he described as a brother and a friend and to show gratitude for his support and that of the three (3) Senators-elect on the platform of Labour Party to his candidacy as Senate President.

Meanwhile, all the Senator -Elect under the platform of Labour Party in Ondo State yesterday adopted Senator David Mark for re election as the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko (r) welcoming the Senate President, David Mark when the latter paid him a courtesy visit in Akure
 
A release signed by the Senator-elect (Ondo Central), Dr. Ayo Akinyelure on behalf of his colleagues, Professor Ajayi Boroffice, (Ondo North)  and Barrister Boluwaji Kunlire, (Ondo South), disclosed that they unanimously resolved to adopt Senator David Mark as the Senate President, ``after due consideration and consultation with leadership of the Labour Party, both in the State and the National level to carry on the mantle of leadership of the 7th National Assembly at the Upper Chamber. ``
 
According to them, Senator David Mark had risen above his Party line and has demonstrated, over the years, patriotism as a true Nigerian leader of substance, and easily the most experienced longest serving Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, highly disciplined with accumulated years of legislative and outstanding leadership qualities to lead the upper Chamber of the 7th National Assembly for overall development of our Great Nation, Nigeria.
 
Further, they noted that Mark has the best political credentials to lead the present Senate to greater heights, members of which were democratically elected on one man, one vote in the just concluded April, 2011 General Elections.
 
``l these attributes put together has informed our decision to give him our full support as true democrats. We, therefore, as Senators-Elect from Ondo State urge all our Distinguished colleagues from South West to rise up and give Senator David Mark their support for re-election, just as we all did and voted massively for President Goodluck Jonathan in the last April General Elections, for rising above his Party Line and for possessing the best Political credentials to lead Nigeria as President and Commander of Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigera,`` the release stated.

The Senate yesterday called the bluff of critics. It amended certain clauses in its body of rules, making it impossible for freshers to vie for positions, particularly President of the Senate.
Through a unanimous voice vote after a guided debate that lasted more than two hours, the lawmakers overwhelmingly endorsed the amendment with relish. Bringing down the gavel on the amendment, Senate President David Mark said the Senate could not have chickened out of the amendment simply because a section of the public kicked against the move.
Describing the opposition to the amendment as deliberate blackmail from outside the parliament, Mark said the rule was not new and that the Senate only moved it from one section of the rules book to the other.
His words: "This is not a rule that is new; it already exists. We only moved it from Section 97(1) (f) to 3(2). Any new senator who is not ranking today would be ranking tomorrow."
"It is for the strengthening of the Senate as an institution. This has nothing to do with David Mark but the institution of Senate. Commentators are ignorant of the rules and they were trying to blackmail us.
"There is nothing wrong with what we are doing now. If we chicken out because a few people are not comfortable with it, I think it is not the right thing to do."
However, the composition of principal officers in the current Senate appears to fault Mark’s claim on the pre-existence of the rule. Of the 10 principal officers, seven are ranking members. The remaining three got the positions as first time members.
The ranking members among the list are: David Mark (President of the Senate); Ike Ekweremadu (Deputy President of the Senate); Teslim Folarin (Majority Leader); Kanti Bello (Chief Whip); Victor Ndoma Egba (Deputy Majority Leader); Maina Ma’aji Lawan (Minority Leader) and Olorunnimbe Mamora (Deputy Minority Leader).
First time senators who are principal officers are: Mohammed Mana (Deputy Chief Whip); Ahmad Sani (Minority Whip); and Kabiru Gaya (Deputy Minority Whip). None of them had any previous legislative experience at any level before they got elected to the Senate.
The amendment came through a motion by Majority Leader Teslim Folarin, entitled: "Amendment to Senate Standing Order 2007".
The new rule 3(2) states that "nomination of senators to serve as presiding officers and appointment of principal officers and other officers of the Senate or any parliamentary delegations shall be in accordance with ranking of senators."
By virtue of the amendment, senators are ranked in line with the number of times re-elected, followed by senators who had been members of the House of Representatives; and senators elected for the first time in that order.
A new clause was also inserted into Rule 111, which makes it possible for any unfinished legislative business to be carried over from a previous session to a new one. Unfinished legislative business used to terminate at the end of the session.
"The legislative business of the Senate, which remains undetermined at the close of a session of the Senate, shall be resumed and proceeded with in same manner as if no adjournment of the Senate had taken place.
"And all papers referred to committees and not reported upon at the close of session of the Senate shall be returned to the office of the Clerk of the Senate and retained until the next session of the Senate when they shall be returned to the relevant committees to which they had previously been referred."
Among the senators who spoke in support of the amendment were Ekweremadu, Mamora, Annie Okwonkwo, Ndoma Egba and Lee Maeba.

The stage seem set for the inauguration of the 7th Senate and the contest for the position of Senate president, June 7th, “if there will be any” , according to Senate Spokesman, Ayogu Eze. For the race of who leads the Senate in the next four years, there seem to be no opponent against incumbent David Mark’s candidacy, perhaps for now . In this piece, Deputy Editor Politics, KASSIM OMOMIA, chronicles the avalanche of endorsements for Mark and the journey to the presidency .

There is absolutely no doubt that these are best of times for Senator Bonaventure Mark, Senate President Federal Republic of Nigeria. He represents, Benue South Senatorial District of Benue state, a.k.a. the food basket of the nation. He is been tipped to return as senate president in the next dispensation, having served in similar capacity in the outgoing senate . For him it is harvest time, following his accomplishment in the service to his father and contributing meaningfully to the progress of the legislature in contemporary Nigeria.

For close watchers of the National Assembly, much of the four- year success of the senate on one hand, and the National Assembly in general has been attributed to his unrivalled style and humane disposition towards leadership goals.

As chairman of the national assembly and president of senate, his doggedness, coupled with his vast military experience and a mixture of native intelligence has earned him an enviable place in annals of Nigeria democratic history .

In these moments of postmortem of the just concluded April general elections in the country, it is yield and bad period for politicians who availed themselves for election contest. While some count their loses others are celebrating victory . For those who took a second shot at the race, like the Otukpo- born Military General and won eventually, it is that he among the victors, manifestly had a high scorecard and an unassailable pedigree.

Their successes may also be predicated on the legacies they left in the sands of times where they had leadership responsibilities to discharge. But in the instance of those who don’t have stories to tell, unfortunately, perhaps their sad tale is ominous. They lost out essentially because of their insensitivity to the mandates they were given or the election promises they reneged.

On the winning side, the singsong will be “everything is turning around for good”. This is apparently because their records shone in the main, and made impact on the progress chart of the people in particular and the nation in general.

In this group of “Sure Democrats” is not only, President Jonathan who won convincingly in the last general elections because he delivered in the first litmus test he went through as president, when he took over as head of state after the death of his boss and late president Umaru Musa Yar’adua, incumbent president of the senate, David Mark, also fits in as a man roundly chosen by his people as well as Nigerian for good works in stabilizing the parliament and the country through quality legislations and enduring policies .

While for instance in the Senate it is clear and settled those who will lead the parliament in the next four years, owing to the presence of the trusted incumbent senate president David Mark who fortunately also returned to the senate, at the House of Representatives, its still not comprehensible if the lads there will abide by the zoning of political offices recently approved by the top hierarchy of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Members from two zones, the South East and the North are said to be planning to scuttle the new zoning policy of the party.

However, following the emergence of Dr Goodluck Jonathan, South-south as president and his vice Architect Namadi Sambo, North –West , both Christians and Muslims respectively, the party’s national caucus recently in Abuja zoned the post of speaker to the South-West, (Muslim), Secretary to Government, South East,( Christian) PDP, chairman, North- East, (Muslim) and the Senate president, North Central, ,(Christian) in what they tagged ethnic and religion balancing.

Notwithstanding the current rearrangement of the power blocs to the respective zones and the seeming pocket of opposition, the position of the senate president zoned to the North central has been a welcome development and unanimously accepted by all and sundry. Except the south east zone that appears at loss and in conflict with itself over what position it actually wants, there has been a season of acceptance, approvals for the candidature of senator David Mark.

For David Mark, Senate sources told the Nigerian Pilot, that there was a previous power deal between the presidency and the PDP which favored David Mark from the North Central zone for the position. The deal was that if the Jonathan/Sambo ticket worked, David Mark will definitely retain is position in the incoming Senate. The new changes, it was learnt occurred at the Obudu Mountain resort during president Jonathan’s working retreat in Cross River state .

Similarly, Mark was also favored following Jonathan’s pre-election promise and that of the PDP leadership to return him and the outgoing speaker Dimeji Bankole in office as Senate president and Speaker, House of Representatives respectively, if they were all re-elected. Unfortunately of these set of high political office seekers, only Bankole lost his election and he is not returning.

As the man to beat in the contest for the position of senate president, if ever there will be opponents against the incumbent, senator David Mark’s leadership style and character with which he deployed to manage 109 noble men and women stands him out incredibly as an icon of no mean repute.

For four good years, the Senate among other legislature in the country, braced the trail in the art of law making in spite of the numerous challenges the outgoing democratic calendar posed to the country. Is it the political impasse created by the ill health of late president Umaru Yara’dua that orchestrated “the Doctrine of Necessity’ from the able leadership of senator Mark which today relaxed the political tension that that scenario had created then. Or the amendment of the 1999 constitution and the electoral Act which guaranteed the peaceful conduct of the 2011 April general elections, acclaimed free and fair, and further plans to create additional states in the country which when elected as senate president for the 7th national Assembly under his amiable leadership, those agitating for new sates will not get respite.

Admittedly, apart from the candidacy of president Goodluck Jonathan, it is on record that senator David Mark is the only individual that has had his aspiration as Senate president endorsed genuinely by Nigerians and stakeholders. For instance by his former colleagues under the Senators Forum, approve of him tacitly, while the Northern Governors forum, senators –elect from his zone, the north central Nigeria, among others.

Backing him as senate president for the umpteenth time, chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Governor Aliyu Babangida of Niger state stated that the forum decided to “support the senate president after a close scrutiny of al the contenders jostling for the coveted position. According to the Governor, the forum reinforced its support for the zoning arrangement of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which zoned the position to the north central.

Also in the fray of groups that are backing him, is the league of Idoma Professors. In a letter dated May, 10, 2011, the coordinator of the group, Professor, Owoicho Akpa, said Mark’s “track record and achievements in the last four years as the outgoing president was enough credentials to earn him another slot as the president of the next senate.

‘we need to consider the track record of the Senate in the last four years under the leadership of senator David Mark. In the life span of the sixth Senate, Nigerians are well aware that the most distinguished senator has led the senate with focus, determination and maturity. His wealth of experience and the handling of the affairs of the senate earned him the respect and admiration of most senators and a large percentage of the Nigerian people”, the group noted.

According to North Central senators elect, the incumbent is the best among those currently vying for the position. Leader of the group, Senator, Smart Adeyemi, noted in Abuja while conveying their support for Mark in a press conference, that over 77 senators have so far endorsed him, an indication, he argued threw the incumbents as the best.

Also emphasizing on the support of the group, Senator, Zainab Kure, enumerated Mark’s qualities, which includes, intelligence, patience ,accommodating and gender sensitivity . She stated that though Mark’s ‘ doggedness and commitment towards ensuring that Nigeria moves forward, has been able to steer the ship of the National Assembly successfully and was able to introduce the doctrine of necessity to solve a near political crisis that almost befell Nigeria some time ago’.

Other members of the group who also thumped up for his candidature, includes, Suleiman Adokwe, Victor Lar, Gyang Dantong, Awesu Kuta, Phillip Aduda, Adamu Abdullahi and Joshua Dariye.
According to the members, the incumbent president has not only brought respectability to the national Assembly but that through him, there has been stability in the Senate.
“Since we no longer experience frequent changes in the Senate, means we have found the formula “ they stressed.

What will also be going for David Mark is the amendment to the “Senate Rule Book” which reportedly barred new comers from contesting leadership positions . But the parliament has denied the allegation. According to its spokesman, Ayogu Eze, he argued that the amendment is aimed at strengthening the legislative institutions and not protecting an individual. To him, there was no contest for the race of president of the senate. The amendment, according to him does not have anything to do with David Mark as a person or an individual. It has to do with institutional integrity to allow the legislature to continue to play its stabilizing role in our democracy”, he said.

The support base for incumbent Senate President, David Mark and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu swelled yesterday as the South South Senate Caucus threw their weight behind their aspiration.
However, the caucus declared that they would abide with whatever the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) decides on the zoning of its national chairmanship.
The endorsement by the Senators at a press conference in Abuja brought to three such open declaration of support for Mark in the last three days. The North Central and the South East caucuses had also announced block support for him. 
Deputy Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma Egba (PDP, Cross River) who spoke for the Niger Delta senators told the press conference that their endorsement of Mark and  hinge on his track record of competence, integrity and his ability to weave a cohesive institution for national unity. 
He further said that the two have led the most remarkable tenure since 1999 and have at the same time brought dignity to their respective offices. 
Both he added would be needed continuity adding that as Nigerians are waiting for the dividend of democracy, there is need for a strong senate to achieve all this. 
The senate present at the conference were Senators James Manager, Alloysious Etuk, Emmanuel Paulker, Odion Ugbesia and GeorgeThompson Sekibo. 
Senator-elect are Helen Esuene, Dr. Okowa, Pius Ewheredo and Hon. Eta Enang. 
   South South Senate caucus endorse Mark, Ekweremdu 
The support base for incumbent Senate President, David Mark, and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, swelled on Sunday as the South South Senate caucus threw their weight behind their aspirations.
However, the caucus declared that they would abide with whatever the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) decides on the zoning of its national chairmanship.
The endorsement by the Senators at a press conference in Abuja brought to three such open declaration of support for Mark in the last three days. The North Central and the South East caucuses had also announced bloc support for him. 
Deputy Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma Egba (PDP, Cross River), who spoke for the Niger Delta senators, told the press conference that their endorsement of Mark hinged on his track record of competence, integrity and his ability to weave a cohesive institution for national unity.

Seventy-seven senators from across the geo-political zones have endorsed the candidacy of Senator David Mark to continue as the Senate president in the next legislative session of the National Assembly. Among these are all the senators from the North Central zone of the country, who had earlier endorse Mark for re-election for the 7th session of the NASS. Incidentally, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has also zone the position to the North Central region.

The position of the North Central senators was conveyed at a press conference held at the National Assembly yesterday by senators and senators elects from the zone. Those in attendance were senators Smart Adeyemi, Zainab Kure, Victor Lar, Abdullahi Adamu, Joshua Dariye, Adokwe Solomon Suleiman, Phillip Aduda, Wesu Kuta and Dantong Danglong and Barnabas Gemade. One of the arrowheads of the campaigners of the Mark presidency project, Senaor Smart Adeyemi explained that the rest senators who were not at the press briefing did so because of other pressing engagement. Notwithstanding, Adeyemi said the absentee senators alread identified with the Mark’s project.

Addressing journalists at the occasion, Zainab Kure highlighted the achievements of the Senate President David Mark in the last four years, noting that a carefulanalysis of Mark has left no senator in doubt as to his ability and experience to steer the leadership of the National Assembly for the next four years. Kure, who is from Niger state, explained that the dexterity of the Senate President and his outstanding leadership qualities made the amendment of the electoral reform possible. She also said the ‘doctrine of necessity’, which saved the country from a political logjam occasioned by the ill health of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was achieved through the very vast experience of the Senate president David Mark.

Said Kure, “We believe that it’s our responsibility to support him because, we feel he is the best man for that position, he has done an excellent job as the senate president. “He played a very statesman role in steering the ship of the senate and we feel it is unequal to none, he is a listening person who carries every one along, he is also patient and has shamed our critics as far his military background is concern. “He allows for fairness and equality, he also accommodates all views in the chambers irrespective of party lines, many did not believe that it would happen, but because of his ability and experience we were able to record success which also led to the free and fair elections we have had.

SENATE President David Mark will retain his seat next month during the inauguration of the new National Assembly.

President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo and many governors on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took the decision yesterday after a meeting in Abuja.

Also at the meeting, chaired by Jonathan, were members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

The meeting resolved that the North-Central, where Mark hails from, should produce the number three citizen while the South-West should produce the Speaker of the House of Representatives. An indigene of the South-East will be made the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

The chairmanship of the party will be retained in the North-East.



It was reliably gathered that the party argued that for stability to continue in the National Assembly, the present status quo should be maintained and in doing this, a South-West Muslim should be the Speaker while a Muslim member from the North-East should be the Deputy Speaker.

Following this development, the coast is clear for Mark to get back his seat as Middle Belt senators yesterday also rose from a crucial meeting to endorse him.

Senators, including old and new, have been holding meetings at the Apo Legislative Quarters at the end of which they passed vote of confidence on Mark and that the zone has concluded that they would support him again.

The senators at the meeting, it was reliably gathered, included Senator Smart Adeyemi, Senator Zainab Kure, Senator-elect Abdullahi Adamu, Senator Abatemi and Senator Philip Aduda.

Their argument is that he is the most experienced in the Senate and that his experience has, to a great extent, stabilised the Senate, therefore there is need for continuity.

They promised to give him their block vote because he has demonstrated that he could control the Senate perfectly well.

In the House, the three contenders to the speakership from the South-West have commenced serious campaign.

They are Mulikat Adeola Akande, Muriana Ajibola and Tajudeen Abisodun. They are PDP members from Oyo State. They are also Muslims.

The campaign has sharply divided members, both the old and the new, as the interest groups have intensified campaigns for their candidates.

Also yesterday, the Northern Governors Forum (NGF) threw its weight behind Mark.

The governors said that their support was based on the excellent work Mark did for four years.

The NGF, in a communique issued at the end of its emergency meeting held in Abuja, also said that it fully supported the zoning of other National Assembly positions by the PDP leadership.

The meeting, attended by no fewer than 10 of the 19 Northern Governors, condemned the post election crisis in some northern states that left scores of people dead.

The NGF resolution, which was read by the Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, enjoined all the incoming governors to engender peace and progress in the region.

Two other contenders for the position of the Senate President, Governors Danjuma Goje (Gombe) and Bukola Saraki (Kwara), were absent at the meeting.

Senators elect from the north central have declared their support for the candidacy of David Mark, as the President of the 7th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The senators, who endorsed Mark from the zone were not only members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but also from other parties like the Congress of Progressive Change (CPC) and Labour Party, among others.
Leading the group at a press briefing at the National Assembly, Senator Smart Adeyemi, submitted that Senator Mark was the best candidate for the position of the Senate President.
He added that so far, not less than 77 senators-elect have endorsed Mark for the nation’s No. 3 office.
Also speaking, Senator Zainab Kure, who has been reelected to continue in the Senate, enumerated Mark’s qualities that made him the best candidate for Senate Presidency to include, intelligence, patience, accommodating and gender sensitivity.
She added that through his doggedness and commitment towards ensuring that Nigeria moves forward, Mark has been able to steer the ship of the National Assembly successfully, and was able to introduce the “Doctrine of Necessity” to solve a near political crisis that almost befell Nigeria some time ago.
Senator Suleman Adokwe, on his part, submitted that “since we no longer experience frequent changes in the Senate leadership, it means we have found the formula. He added that Mark was the “the most courageous person in Nigeria. He does not speak with double tongue.”
Hon. Victor Lar, a Senator elect from Plateau State, noted that Mark has brought a mark of respectability to the National Assembly, while Senator Gyang Dantong pleaded that “if anyone has done what is right, let’s allow him again”, adding, “it is good for democracy, it is good for the country”.
Other senators-elect who joined in the press briefing, and who also spoke on why Mark should be made the Senate President were Sen. Awesu Kuta, Hon. Philip Adoda, and former governors of Nasarawa and Plateau states, Abdullahi Adamu and Joshua Dariye respectively.

Jonathan said; “I assure you of the Federal Government’s unflinching support as we jointly work to reposition Nigeria for her God-ordained greatness, saying that; “it is my fervent prayer that, as you continue to create happiness and radiate hope in the lives of our people, may God’s Grace and wisdom also continue to abound in your life

The Nigerian State is positively reprocessing her statute- dignity in the Comity of Nations with the conduct of the on-going commendable elections. For the first time in almost twenty years, this generation of the country’s leadership is providing the double credibility of conducting credible elections and upholding their unhindered announcements. In our recent past, the unfortunate trend had been either the conduct of very free and fair elections followed with unprecedented assault of mindless cancellation as occasioned by the June 12 debacle or the entrenchment of electoral heist and state collaborated selections called election particularly under the last electoral umpireship.



Today the current presidency in its bid to provide the electoral process with some level of national followership and confidence, appointed an almost unblemished INEC leadership that has been nationally and internationally celebrated. In the same guise, the leadership that has been produced in the aftermath of the elections has also been adjudged acceptable by the meaningful percentage of the voters in their respective electoral jurisdiction.



President Goodluck Jonathan and the Professor Attahiru Jega led INEC must be commended for this shift in national redirection. We must not forget to put in perspective, the resonating confidence that the process has brought not only to the Nigerian State, but particularly to her people and the mass of minority groups within the state. Today on the basis of fairness and rejection of the majority mantra, we have leaders from hitherto unimagined and unacceptable “little areas” occupying the highest positions in the land.



Nigeria is now working and her people are working. Removed from the above, we have a National Assembly that is synonymous with stability under the able leadership of the indefatigable Senator David Mark. The fact that under his leadership, the usual turbulence of leadership mistrust in the National Assembly was permanently laid to rest is worthy of national celebration. Most importantly that he hails from a minority group holding together leaders from every part of Nigeria in an institution that is famous for its unprecedented leadership turnover under previous leaders is extraordinary.



It is in defence of the need to maintain and further this stable, performing and peaceful National Assembly that we are calling on all Senators-elect and well meaning Nigerians to support Senator David Mark to continue as the nation’s next President of the Senate of the Federal Republic. Our quest is not above board, rather it is in line with the spirit of maintaining the status quo as agreed by the leadership of the PDP upon the death of our dear late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua that his successor should complete their joint ticket and mandate while maintaining the subsisting zoning arrangement.



Therefore we are anchoring our demand on the following unmatched records of the National Assembly under the leadership of Senator David Mark:



· First Senate President since our return to democracy in 1999 to hold forth for the entire duration of the 4 year term;



· First Senate President since 1999 not to have had even a notice of impeachment proceeding tabled against him;



· First Senate President to lead the National Assembly arguably since Independence to twice alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;



· First Senate President since 1999 to maintain cordial and manageable relationship between the National Assembly and the Executive Arm on the one hand and the other leaders of the National Assembly on the other hand;



· The First Senate President of Nigeria since 1999 to assume the position truly as a very ranking Senator and now one of the very few longest serving Senators of the land since then;



· The first Senate President to handle a constitutional succession crisis situation without blemish following the protracted illness and death of late President Umaru Yar’Adua with the application of the concept of the doctrine of necessity, a purely judicial theory extrapolated to the legislature with practical success and national acceptability that resolved a country’s imminent march towards system dysfunctionality and or collapse. It is the fruit of that extraordinary feat that we are enjoying today as a rooting democracy;



· One of the few Senate Presidents from the Minority groups in Nigeria since Independence to have assumed the position with a formidable political and leadership antecedence;



· The first Senate President of the Federal Republic since 1999 to have maintained earnest, good working and political relationship with his home state Governor. Senator David Mark is an embodiment of national and sub-national stability. It would be a great deal for the unity and stability of Nigeria for him to continue as the next President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.



Speak out for continuity and stability.

Talk to a Senator to vote for Senator Mark as the next President of the Senate of the Federal Republic.



Appeal to the Senator – elect from your Senatorial District to vote for Senator David Mark as the President of the Senate.



Thank you all.



Signed:



Comrade J. O OCHE

Volunteer cordinator



Door2Door Volunteer Organization for

Senator David Mark 2011

08167766444

07068777722