Godwin Akor
24 July 2008
opinion
Makurdi — Godwin Akor, Makurdi
It was in 1999, after returning from self exile, that David Aleichenu Bonaventure Mark declared that a retired Permanent Secretary, Mr George Akume, was going to become Benue's next governor. Mark's prediction came to pass inspite of the fact that Mr Mike Nku who was from the same senatorial district with Akume had been tipped to occupy that position by the state caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
At the end of Akume's first tenure, the same Mark, after critically assessing the impact of that administration on the lives of the people, said he was going to be elected for a second term.
Mark's prediction again came to pass as the people of Benue South Senatorial District (the Idomas) voted overwhelmingly for Akume who was almost thrown out by his Tiv kinsmen in the Benue North-East and Benue Nort-West Senatorial Districts.
Mark's first and second tenures at the Senate were not debatable as he was seen as one who could determine the political equation in Benue state. His people voted him into office at that time without being cajoled; they were convinced that God had brought to them a leader who could challenge any policy that did not favour them at the state level.
Mark's courage and ability to predict the future was practically demonstrated when he condemned late General Abacha's administration for deviating from the transition-to-civil rule agenda approved by the military authorities.
He had warned that the administration was doomed forcing Abacha to openly seek to devour him. Mark was desperately sought for like Ahab sought for Elija after he was warned of the consequences of his misrule in the land of the Jews.
Today, Mark is the Senate President. He did not foresee that he would occupy that seat but he foresaw that his third term had been sealed. Very well, Mark's third term ambition became a reality while that of Obasanjo failed because God was not with the former president.
When it dawned on Mark that Alhaji Usman Abubakar was going to face him at the poll in April 2007, he was not perturbed. In his usual manner which some people abhorred, he simply told the populace during his campaign that "all I know is that I am going to win if election is genuinely conducted".
The battle against Mark was tough. Apart from the retired generals who conspired against him, the immediate past governor of the state George Akume who did not hide the fact that nursed the ambition of becoming the senate president backed Abubakar with the state machinery and a lot of resources.
While his opponent went to polling stations and the senatorial collation center at Otukpo where he was said to have tormented INEC officers, party agents and security officers, Mark stayed at his Otukpo residence to monitor what was happening on the field.
After his victory at the polls, Mark was dragged to the election petition tribunal by his opponent who hired over five Senior Advocates of Nigeria-led by a former President of the NBA, Wole Olanipekun and about 15 other lawyers.
Mark, on his part, hired Damian Dodo, SAN, and One Mr. Erokoro who was made SAN while still handling the case and about seven other lawyers.
At the lower court, Olanipekun held sway as many of the motions were decided in favour of his client, Abubakar.
Even as Mark appeared to be sinking until the tribunal headed by Justice C I Oririh, nullified his election, he insisted that the mandate given to him by the people was going to be reclaimed at the Jos Appeal Court.
On different occasions, Mark declared that he had already put the case behind him. His leadership at the Senate was not disturbed. Worried Idoma people made overtures towards Abubakar to withdraw the case since Mark was already occupying Number Three Position in Nigeria but the more the plea, the more Abubakar said it was impossible for him to "abort nine months pregnancy".
The Och'Idoma, Agabaidu Elias Ikoyi Obekpa, could not convince Abubakar to withdraw the case. Emirs and chiefs from across the country could not convince him to withdraw the case as he was certain that the Court of Appeal In Jos would declare him winner of the senatorial election held in the Benue South Senatorial District on April 21, 2007.
Mark's victory at the Appeal Court in Jos was the case of David defeating Goliath as Dodo who was Olanipekun's junior in the bar, defeated him. Mark who appeared to be alone in the battle field defeated Abubakar and his cohorts who used their onnections and resources to sway public opinion to their side.
Mark has promised Nigerians that the National Assembly would review the 1999 Constitution with a view to giving a sense of belonging to the voiceless, the marginalized, the oppressed and the downtrodden in Nigeria.
Even as some people see Mark's promise as a mirage because of the tedious nature of reviewing the constitution during a civilian administration, he has insisted that the exercise would be the best the National Assembly would offer to the people.
Specifically, the senate president has said that creation of states would be given priority during the constitution review. He told his people at a reception organized recently in his honour at Otukpo that the creation of Apa state was dear to his mind.
What Mark needs is the cooperation of the people. Even if highly placed Idoma people fail to support him in the quest for the creation of Apa state, history has shown that any time Mark is determined to do a thing, he goes it all alone.
Moses took the Jews out of Egypt but could not lead them to the promised land. The question, therefore, is : Will Mark take Idoma people out of their predicament in the present Benue and lead them to the promised land?.
For sure, the doubting Thomas's would attempt to frustrate his efforts at emancipating the Idoma who have been seeking for identity but we live to see how Mark would push his agenda through at the Senate, the House of Representatives and two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly.
Nigerians live to see if David Mark is a prophet. If he is a prophet, when was he anointed? If he is a prophet, when will his people respect him? Why is it that he wins his battle any time he pronounces victory? These are the questions philosophers, the clergy and those who know Mark very well and have worked with him will answer in the near future.
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