Again, I have been spurred to write! I have been sufficiently provoked in the spirit and as such, been inspired to write.
There is no other cogent time to do this than now; and like I always say, “silence is no longer golden”. All it takes for evil to succeed is for good people to do nothing and what makes lies to flourish is the absence of the truth.
It’s also very obvious that, the vast majority of the people who ask the above question on daily basis truly yearn and beg for answers – tangible and factual answers.
What has David Mark done for the people in his 16 years in office? As idyllic as the question appears and sounds, it’s gradually becoming a national anthem and I think the reasons are not farfetched.
One, it could be possible that the people don’t actually have the update of what Senator Mark has done for his constituents or some persons are actually informed but mischievously disparage it on the alter of sentiments, crass hatred and political idiocy.
A careful observation on the trend in Benue South shows that all of the above are responsible for the daily chorus of the said question which has also excalated to other parts of Nigeria and thus, has become a needless topical issue for analysis on every newspaper stand, bus stop, beer parlour and even on the matrimonial bed.
This question has become so popular that the Google and other online applications have customised it with the name, David Mark.
The peak of it was on Saturday during the APC senatorial flagoff in Otukpo when, the party Chairman mounted the podium and was like asking ‘what has David Mark done for the people in 16 years’? And his audience, greatly beneficiaries of David Mark’s achievements, was clapping and laughing.
As devilish as it may sound, amongst the crowd was a decampee, a man whom was the Chiefest Beneficiary of Senator Mark’s Political magnanimity. Through Senator David Mark, he was appointed as Minister of State for Education and when Late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua sacked him (for reasons I won’t mention here), he ran to Senator Mark again and for his (Mark’s) passion for his people, the man was immediately appointed as Chairman, National Council for Colleges of Education NCCE.
Needless to mention here that as Minister of Education, the expectation of Benue people was for him to have transformed the Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo to a Federal Polytechnic and, also as the overall Boss for the Colleges of Education in Nigeria, one expected that he should have transformed the only College of Education in Idoma land to Federal College of Education, Oju.
None of these happened and he left the office at a time the students in COE Oju were dying of cholera for lack of portable water; and it took the efforts of same Senator Mark to attract motorised borehole in COE Oju.
My dear Professor was also appointed as Special Adviser to the National Chairman of PDP on Political Affairs and was directly involved in the election that sacked GEJ and popularly de-marketed the hitherto largest party in Africa, PDP.
Also among the crowd on Saturday were 2 Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and over 15 Board Chairmen, courtesy of Senator David Mark. But none could be godly enough to stand up, grab the microphone and say ‘David Mark has done something for Idoma people’.
This is the more reason methinks, is responsible for why some Idoma elites would choose to help outsiders who would acknowledge and appreciate the gesture, even when their benefactors are not there.
These crop of elders are at the verge of shutting doors of help, compassion and mercy against the youths. Having seen the gravity of the betrayal and ineptitudeness of the supposed elders, I’m sure any Idoma guy would think twice before helping his fellow Idoma.
For the records, I shall take the pains of bringing to the knowledge of the general public, the answers that have been missing. I volunteer to abreast the public the answers to the questions they have been asking, which has inadvertently painted the Idoma land as the most unfortunate and most underdeveloped nation in comity of nations.
This I shall do in phases – The list of those whose appointments were facilitated by Senator David Mark; the Constituency and personal projects he has so far attracted to Zone C; List of Beneficiaries of David Mark Scholarship Scheme; List of employment into Federal Civil and Public Services as well as list of those he supported greatly in their elections.
In doing this, I shall seek your prayers and solidarity as I embark on this onerous task.
Today, I shall start with the list of Appointments influenced by Sen. David Mark. The list is inexhaustible and I promise to update it as I discover more names at the course of my research work.
Let it also be known that I have never in anyway benefitted anything from the Distinguished Senator and none of my family members is on the list below.
Funingly enough and contrary to the insinuations that Mark only empowered his immediate family members, I have not yet seen anywhere at the course of my research, any name related to Senator Mark amongst the beneficiaries.
Finally, it’s very relevant to our knowledge that each of the appointees below was entitled to influencing appointments and employments of tens of other idoma youths. However, research shows that it was only Comrade Abba Moro, Minister of Interior and Dr. Matthias Oyigeya, Chief Medical Director, Federal Medical Center, Makurdi that justified their positions as thousands of Idoma Youths were employed under their watch, courtesy Senator David Mark.
List of Appointments influenced by Sen. David Mark
1. Chief Patrick Ogbu – Chairman, NTA 2. Late Chief Enyi Obande – Chairman, Lower Niger Basin Dev. Authority 3. Justice George Uloko – Chairman\Chief Complaints Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission. 4. Engr. Joseph Garba Anebi – Controller-General, Federal Fire Service 5. Prof. Francis Uba – Member, University College Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State 6. Dr. Jerry Agada – Chairman, National Commission for Colleges of Education 7. Prof. James Alachi – Chairman, Federal College of Education, Owerri 8. Prof James Alachi – Coordinator, National Open University of Nigeria, Otukpo Study Center 9. Prof. James Alachi – Chairman, David Mark Scholarship Board 10. Col. Idu Enonche (Rtd) – Chairman, National Institute of Sports, Lagos 11. Maj. Gen Lawrence Onoja (Rtd) – Chairman, National Institute of Sports, Lagos 12. Hon David Idoko – Chairman, Lower Niger River Basin Dev. Authority 13. Comrade Abba Moro – Chairman, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi 14. Dr Isaac Egboja – Chairman, National Veternary Research Institute, Vom 15. Prof. John Idoko – Director-General, NACA 16. Prof . John Obuh – Chairman, NAFDAC 17. Engr Egbe Igoh – Chairman, National Communications Commission 18. Comrade Abba Moro – Minister of Interior 19. Prof. Innocent Uja – Director-General, NMRA 20. Prof Michael Adikwu – VC, University of Abuja 21. Chief Bongos Ikwue – Chairman, National Film Commission 22. Dr. Matthias Oyigeya – Chief Medical Director, Federal Medical Center Makurdi 23. Dr. Jerry Agada – Minister of State, Education 24. Chief Emmanuel Ogbile – Chairman, Public Complaints Commission 25. Chief Benson Abounu – Chairman of NTA 26. Ambassador Ogbeh Obande – Nigerian Ambassador to Switzerland 27. Prof Shamshudeen Amali – VC, University of Ilorin 28. Mr Sam Odeh – Minister of State, Niger Delta 29. Gen. Geofrey Ejiga – Member, National Conference 30. Prof. Yakubu Ochefu – Member, National Conference 31. Dr. Robinson Elijah – Member, National Conference 32. Arc David Ochai – Member, Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi 33. Hon Andrew Odumu – Member Benin-Owena River Basin Dev Authority 34. Rose Ameh – Member, Federal College of Education, Pankshin 35. Barr. John Ochoga – Member, Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Adamawa 36. Hon. Chief Godwin Ameh Udoh – Member, National Library of Nigeria 37. Hon. Geofrey Okpe – Member, National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult, and Non Formal Education 38. Mrs. Joy Agi – Member, Benue State University Governing Council 39. Dr Michael Omojo – Member, Federal University of Agriculture Umudike 40. Dr Michael Omojo – Member, Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi 41. Hon Godwin Abu Edo – Member, Border Communities Dev Agency 42. Hon. Mike Inalegwu – Member, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria 43. Mr. Samuel Ongwatabo – Member, Federal College of Chemical & Leather Technology, Zaria 44. Dr. Jerry Agada – SA to National Chairman Of People’s Democratic Party 45. Barr. Chris Audu War – Member, Legal Aid Council 46. Prof. Elizabeth Amuta – Member, Institute for Agricultural Research, Samaru, Zaria 47. Mr. Christopher Abah – Member, Federal College of Education, (SSP) Kontagora 48. Prof Emmanuel Ameh – Chairman, University Teaching Hospital, Jos 49. Ambassador Godwin Agama- Carreer Ambassador (Posting) 50. Hon. Mrs Theresa Ikwue – Member, Nigerian Railway Corporation 51. Hon Comfort Obeya – Member, National Literacy Commission 52. Prof John Uko – Member, Constitutional Conference 53. Hon Joe Ochigbo – Member, National Institute of Nigeria Languages 54. Chief Augustine Ejembi – Member, National Examination Council NECO 55. Chief Augustine Ejembi – Member, Federal College of Education, Okene 56. Prof Ogoh Alubo – Member, Nigerian Universities Commission 57. Alh. Audu Sule – Member, National Insurance Commission 58. Chief John Enyi – Member, Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti 59. Hon. Ulaka Ulaka – Member, Federal College of Education, Okene 60. Chief Reuben Ade – Member, Presidential Task Force on Niger Delta 61. Arc Ojay Iyanya – Member, Governing Council, ABU Zaria 62. Hon Lawrence Edu – Member, Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi 63. Hon. Augustine Ikeke 64. Hon Augustine Abe – Member, Nigerian Export Promotion Council 65. Hon. Edor Williams Ogbole – Member, Nigeria Technical Aids Corps 66. Hon Augustine Awodi – Member, Anambra-Imo River Basin Authority 67. Major Agbo (Rtd) – Member, Anamabra –Imo River Basin Dev Authority? 68. Hon. Alex Ineke – Federal Commissioner, National Boundary & Adjustment Commission 69. Princess Igbe Ogiri – Member, National Lottery Commission 70. Barrister Oga Ekwu – Member, Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu 71. Chief Ogbeche Onyilo – Member, Lower Niger Basin Dev Authority 72. Prof. Owoicho Akpa – Member, NPEB 73. Prof. Patricia Donli – Member, Education Trust Fund 74. Gen. Geofrey Ejiga (Rtd) – Member, Onne Oil & Gas Free Zone, Port Harcourt 75. Mr. Ajuh Ameh – Member, Sokoto Rima River Basin Dev Authority 76. Hon Adakole Adanu – Member, Nigerian Institute of Oil Palm Research 77. Ms. Alice Ochai – Member, National Centre for Women Development 78. Dr. Teddy Agida – Otubor Okhae Teaching Hospital Irua 79. Prof. Ediga Agbo – Member, Nigerian Educational Research & Development Council 80. Dr. Samson Ode Ichakpa – Member, National Gallery of Arts 81. Late Arch John Ameh – Member, FRCN 82. Dr. Isaac Igoh – Member, Pharmacist Council of Nigeria 83. Dr. Grace Ogwuche – Minister For Special Duties 84. Dr. Christy Ekoja – Member, Code of ConductBureau 85. Dr. Ada Chenge – Managing Director, Lower Benue Development Authority.
(Watch out for part 2).
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