The immediate past Senate President, Senator David Mark on Wednesday implored Nigerians to guard jealously and uphold the sanctity of the nation’s independence attained with sweat and pains of our founding fathers and make the country a better place for all.
Speaking against the backdrop of the current security challenges aggravated by Boko Haram insurgents threatening the peace and unity of the nation, Mark noted that everything must be done to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria.
Mark in a goodwill message to Nigerians by his Media Assistant, Paul Mumeh, to commemorate the nation’s 55th Independence anniversary said, “our freedom must not be taken for granted, adding that,“We must strive hard for peace and unity of our country at all times.”
He recalled the turbulent times the country has gone through in the past including but not limited to the 30 months old fratricidal civil war, various ethno-religious conflicts and insurgencies and submitted that Nigeria has the capacity to overcome the current security challenges if we work together.
According to Mark: “if Nigeria went through all these challenges and survived, we can surmount our present challenges no matter the odds. All that is needed is the political will and cooperation of every one . This is not the time to play the ostrich.”
The former Senate President showered encomiums on the Nigerian Armed Forces for their relentless efforts to keep the nation one and urged them not to be deterred by the challenges of the current insecurity caused by Boko Haram.
He therefore enjoined Nigerians not to despair under the present circumstances but to be courageous enough to overcome the present challenges.
Senator Mark added that it was by choice and design that the nation opted for democracy modeled after the American presidential system of government for the good of all citizens.
The former Senate President said that in spite of the imperfections of democracy, there is alternative to democracy because it gives power to the people who make the ultimate decision.
“I have been an active participant during the military regimes and the current democratic dispensation; therefore I am in a position to say without fear of contradiction that democracy is the best kind of government.
“It is a product of the wishes of the people. It is representative and participatory. Indeed people have a say and determines what they want through the ballot boxes”.
He urged Nigerians to support the present administration in the onerous task of improving the lots of the citizenry.
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