By Okechukwu Jombo
Former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark yesterday took stock of Nigeria’s tortuous journey to nationhood and submitted that the time calls for sober reflection as the country celebrates its 64th independence anniversary.
In a goodwill message to Nigerians, Senator Mark reflected on the journey so far and noted that despite the challenges of insecurity, poverty, disease, and general underdevelopment, Nigeria is endowed with human and natural resources capable of changing the tide for good.
This he said is achievable if all citizens are patriotic and united with a common mission and purpose.
“Disappointing as the situation may seem, the shortcomings of the past should serve as useful lessons for progress. We must learn from our past mistakes and work towards a better future,” Senator Mark said.
He recalled the 30-month-old fratricidal civil war, occasional ethno-religious conflicts and the uncertainties surrounding political engagements, saying that all these issues are traceable to inadequacies of leadership and citizens’ failure.
Senator Mark cautioned against divisive tendencies and inflammatory statements in recent times that tend to exacerbate the already fragmented atmosphere, adding “Those who exploit our fault lines of ethnicity and religious differences to promote hatred are enemies of the country”.
Despite the challenges, Senator Mark noted that Nigeria has made progress in some areas pointing out that, “Though we are not yet where we should be, we are certainly better than yester years. This should serve as motivation for us to continue working towards a better Nigeria.”
The former Senate President emphasized that political leaders should lead by example and strive to put the citizens at the centre of their programmes and policies.
He added, “Leaders must prioritize the needs and well-being of the people”.
Senator Mark was optimistic that Nigeria can come out of its current challenges if all Nigerians resolve to bury the hatchet of yesterday, “We must unite and work together to address our challenges”.
To further address the challenges of underdevelopment, Senator Mark advocated for huge investments in enterprises and production that would improve income and end capital flights.
He stated, “We need to create an environment where everyone can ply his or her trade in any part of the country without fear of intimidation or molestation. We need to be our brother’s keeper at all times. I wish Nigerians a prosperous nation”.