The immediate past President of the Senate, David Mark (PDP, Benue South) lamented over the weekend that the crises infested nation propelled by divisive tendencies as it is with Nigeria today, was not the dream of his generation. David Mark, who made the lamentation on Friday in Abuja during his 70th birthday celebration said rather than nationalistic and patriotic leaders, what the country has now, are ethnic and religious champions.
He said: “When I was growing up, I made friends across board devoid of ethnicity, tribe or religion. And we saw ourselves as brothers and sisters with a common destiny. But what we see today is a celebration of ethnic or religious champions in our national life. “This is not the Nigeria of our dream. We must rise up to reorientate our people in order to reverse the trend for good.
We must see ourselves as one people with a common destiny and purpose.” He however expressed optimism that a better Nigeria where everyone is free to live and pursue his or her legitimate ambition in any part of the country without fear of intimidation or molestation is possible. The possibility for that according to him, can happen “if we see ourselves as brothers and sisters.” Spiritually he declared that in rededicating himself to God at 70, he would intensify his prayers for the growth of the country along the lines of peace, unity and justice for all.
