DAVID MARK’S 67- YEAR- OLD JOURNEY

by Northern senators, a conclusion had already been drawn that the bill would not survive the second reading.

But by the time Mark called for a voice vote, to the surprise of all watchers, there was no longer any single dissenting voice as all senators and sundry chorused “ay” in support of its passage through second reading.

How did he achieve this? In his remark at the end of the debate, Mark had commended the senators for their contributions and described them as an army of patriotic, responsible and well meaning Nigerians who would not kill PIB in view of the vantage position posterity had placed them as well as the numerous benefits the bill possessed for the nation when passed into law.

By these persuasive words, Mark had already gotten his colleagues committed as only anyone who wanted to be portrayed as an unpatriotic Nigerian that would sustain his opposition to the bill. Instances of how Mark had used wisdom to resolve impasse of different kinds in the Senate are numerous to mention.

Mark’s rich leadership style is not only admired by his fellow colleagues in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus, senators from opposition parties also adore him. To buttress this point, an opposition senator, Senator Femi Lanlehin (Oyo South), in 2013 said: “I think the opposition by and large to which I belong has kept to the rule. And of course you are aware that the Senate has the majority membership from the ruling party which is the PDP.

“But despite that, in my own opinion and to the best of my knowledge, I think we have, by and large, been able to work together under the leadership of somebody (Mark) who has a wealth of experience not only in the legislature but also in the executive arm of government. And he has also been a member of the Senate since 1999.

“So, we have benefitted very well from his wealth of experience and navigation of Senate through his knowledge. And so far, it has been good because irrespective of party affiliation. We are all here to foster and protect the interests of our constituencies and the man who is from Oyo South, his needs are not different from the needs of those who are from Yobe East or Bayelsa North.”

It must also be noted that it is not only within the National Assembly that Mark has provided stable and productive leadership. Through his prudence, the Senate under his leadership has at different times served as a stabilising force in the entire nation.

To this end, Senate’s adoption of the doctrine of necessity on February 9, 2010, to end the impasse which heated the polity like a furnace, following the medical trip embarked upon by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua to Saudi Arabia in November 2009 without handing over to his deputy, then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, will easily come to mind.

Through this bold, patriotic and responsive move by the Senate, the polity which had in the preceding four months been overwhelmed by tension heaved a sigh as the vacuum in leadership was quickly filled when the doctrine of necessity conferred the power to act as president on Jonathan.

In the same vein, the complementary role played by the Senate during the struggle to end the fuel subsidy crisis of January 2012 cannot be forgotten in a hurry.

Mark, with the support of his colleagues, quickly moved in to douse tension and as well deploy powers within his reach to end the crisis through various interventionist techniques, dialogue and collaboration which all helped in no small way to end the crisis and restore peace to the hitherto troubled nation.

Also worthy of note is Mark’s negotiation role to end the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), their Polytechnic Counterparts who were on strike for almost one year as well as Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) industrial action last year. Mark’s Senate also stood firm against the Western pressure when it passed the anti-gay Law and indeed outlawed same sex marriage in the country.

But in all these remarkable achievements, Mark exhibited humility and did not take the credit to himself rather to his colleagues for their unflinching support, team work and cooperation. Mark’s style of leadership in the Senate has proved that Nigerians can work together to achieve national goals if only people are conscious of the responsibility that posterity has placed on their shoulders when found in places of authority.

As Mark, the 12th President of the Nigerian Senate marks his 67th birthday today, it is hoped that in the years ahead, the nation will still need his ready hands to help navigate the socio-economic and political climate.

- Mumeh is the Chief Press Secretary to the President of the Senate