Deji Elumoye in Abuja
Former Senate President , Senator David Mark on Wednesday narrated how he ran the affairs of the Senate successfully for eight uninterrupted years from 2007 to 2015 without stepping on the proverbial banana peels.
Mark said “it was not by my power . It was God , the prayers of good spirited Nigerians and collective will of my colleagues worked the magic”.
The immediate past Senate President told political stakeholders and paramount rulers in Ado, Oju and Obi local government areas of Benue State in continuation of his thank you visit to the nine local government areas in Benue south after 20 years in the Senate that God takes all the credit.
His words “I have no power of my own. It was the Grace of God, the support and prayers of our people and the collective will of my colleagues that helped me evade the banana peels for eight years”.
According to him, no Senator is bigger than the other as each and everyone is qualified to be a presiding officer, “so , we respect each other and takes collective decisions that gives every one a sense of belonging “.
He said there was need to come back home to thank his people for the unweavering support and encouragement since 1999, adding “I may not have accomplished everything, but I did my best”.
Mark added that the number of projects including but not limited to “the multi- billion naira Otobi water dam, the Loko/ Oweto bridge and road, the National Open University of Nigeria ( NOUN) study centre, the David Mark scholarship foundation,among others, are testimonies that I did my best”.
He said he will continue to identify with his people for developmental projects even as he reminded them of the need to uphold the sanctity of peace and unity.
In their separate remarks, the paramount ruler of Ado, HRH, Ochiko Onazi and his Oju counterpart HRH Oga Ero praised Mark for the initiative to embark on a thank you tour of his constituency even while leaving office.
The royal fathers said it was rare and not known in our history that public office holders return home to say thank you after leaving office.
