Date Published: 07/20/09

Dear Sir,

Automatic Ticket: Mark shows his true colour

Senate President David Mark needs no much introduction. But permit me to say that he was one of those that had their elective seats thoroughly challenged both at the tribunal and appeal court levels. You will find it difficult to annul election of an already serving Senate President, of a ruling party for that matter. Senator David Mark, many believe was not the winner of the senatorial election that took place in his constituency, no thanks to our compromised judiciary.

See how spoils of office can make one to be so self-centered, loving what he does not believe in - Democracy. We should not forget that the same person was among those that demonstrated their objection to handing over (then) to a duly elected president (MKO Abiola) in an election adjudged to be Nigeria’s most free, peaceful and transparent. To show how Mark dislikes democratic norms, he was not able to pretend and his true color came out in his agitation for automatic return-ticket for serving senators. He may have reckoned that such a situation would amount to all of them returning to the Senate because they believe in rigging.

Concluding the part he played against Abiola presidency; he was one of those military officers that were alleged to have pointed "gun” at IBB urging him not to allow MKO Abiola to be sworn in as the elected president of Nigeria. Given this background, what is David Mark doing at the ‘democratically’ elected National Assembly? He and his ilk should quit that Assembly, majority would insist.

Dr. Edet Iniodu

4 Oak Hill Boulevard

Ontario, Canada