‘Mission to rescue Nigeria, a collective one:, says David Mark

By Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

Former Senate President and National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Senator David Mark has said that the mission to rescue Nigeria is a collective one.
Mark said this on Tuesday at the public presentation of the book ‘The Loyalist’ authored by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC and one time Minister of Sports in the country.
The author of the book, Abdullahi however expressed the firm belief that while Nigerians are ready for the task ahead come 2027, the political class, particularly those in the opposition, do not seem to be.
Abdullahi noted with regrets that the opposition politicians are not coming together enough, stressing that they are not holding hands enough.
Mark, who was the Chairman of the occasion, noted that most Nigerians are interested more in personal benefits than political gains.
At the book launch, which was attended by former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, many ex-Governors and other top politicians, declared that the author has, undoubtedly, paid his dues.
His words, “The mission to rescue Nigeria is collective. He (Bolaji Abdullahi) is a straightforward person, and even when I disagreed with him, his advice was always adopted.
“He is a committed Nigerian, very patriotic. Most Nigerians are interested in personal benefits. He has paid his dues and done his best”, he said.
Mark equally used the occasion to set the record straight regarding the issue of the doctrine of necessity which enabled erstwhile Vice President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan to become acting President in the year 2010, when his Principal then (late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua) was critically ill before he eventually passed on in May 5, 2010.
According to the former Senate President, “The Doctrine of Necessity is the sole responsibility of the Senate and has nothing to do with Kwara State or anyone from Kwara State.
“It was the sole responsibility of the Senators of that time”, he explained.
Abdullahi, while giving his vote of thanks, “For 2027, Nigerians are ready. But I don’t think we are ready. We are not coming together enough. We are not holding hands enough.
“Nigerians look at us; they see different enclaves and different entities. They see competition rather than cooperation.
“I know I am talking myself into trouble again. I have been under fire in the last three days by some of the passionate supporters on Twitter. But I will keep saying this, because Nigeria, this country, has no substitute, has no alternative.
“So I want to use this opportunity, please. Because more than I appreciate all the money you have pledged, I was telling my wife that maybe I should actually be a full-time writer, because it appears to be more lucrative.
“But more than I appreciate all the money, more than the money, I beg you—our leaders, I beg you. Nigerians are waiting. I was in Delta some weeks before the end of last year. The people at the airport who recognized me came to me and said, ‘Please, we know you. You people must not fail.’ And I get that everywhere I have gone. I’m sure you also get it.
“I am making this appeal: please, come together more. Let our followers direct their passion into the ADC. Let them know there is only one party, and our mission is bigger than anything—any individual or individual ambition. This is what I’m begging.
“So it is my hope that if this is the only thing that this gathering this afternoon is able to achieve, Alhamdulillah (Praise be to the Almighty God), he said.