Immediate past Senate President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential aspirant, Senator David Mark has insisted that restructuring of the country is an idea whose time has come.
Contrary to the notion that he was capitalizing on the populist agenda, the former Senate President said he has listened and galvanized the views of various ethnic nationalities in Nigeria and submitted that restructuring is now.
In the meantime, members of the Alumni Association of 3rd Regular Course of Nigerian Defence Acedemy (NDA) have declared their support for the former senate president describing him as the stimulus needed to address the security, socio-political and economic challenges facing Nigeria.
Mark in a statement signed by his media assistant, Paul Mumeh said: “It is understandable that the APC would accuse me of being a new convert to restructuring in view of their many failed promises to the Nigerian people. I will not make promises like them. My antecedent over the years especially during my tenure as Senate President is a testimony that I will always act in the nation’s best interest.
“My position is anchored on the feedback from Nigerians, and as a leader, in my own right, I have to act in consonance with the wishes of people.
“My experience in the last few years shows that a leader is only effective if he listens to the people. The issues of insecurity and the dwindling economic fortune of Nigeria makes it imperative that something has to be done by way of restructuring.
“Rarely has our country been faced with such a state of uncertainty, despair, suspicion and division. If restructuring is the answer, why not now?
“For once, Nigerians across the geo-political zones and various ethnic nationalities are of the consensus and indeed united on the subject, restructuring.
“I believe restructuring if anchored on fairness, equity and justice would strengthen our bond of brotherhood and unity. I will always act in the nation’s best interest.”
The association rose from its annual general meeting in Abuja at the weekend with a resolution to support Senator Mark’s ambition saying that his wealth of experience, both in the military and democratic dispensation puts him in a better stead to address the ills facing the nation.
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the association marked the 51st anniversary of their admission and enlistment into the Nigerian Army (They were in NDA, Kaduna between 1967 and 1970).
Answering questions from newsmen after the meeting, spokesman of the association, Senator Tunde Ogbeha stated: “Senator Mark has informed us of his decision to contest for the Presidential election in 2019.
“The association identifies with him and commend his courage for this ambition. He is properly equipped to lead the nation to the promise land. We will support him to ensure that he succeeds.
“In supporting him, we will be guided by democratic tenets and within the ambits of the law.”
He said Senator Mark has the requisite experience and he has the deep knowledge of the Nigerian nation pointing out that he occupies a vantage position to proffer solutions to the myriads of our problem.
Senator Ogbeha added that Mark stands tall above his competitors in the Presidential contest.
In his comment, member of the association Commodore M.B Babatunde (Rtd) noted that they enlisted into the Nigerian army genuinely with the sole conviction to defend the territorial integrity of the nation.
Earlier, the chairman of the association, Senator David Mark noted that the association was born out of patriotism to serve the nation saying “either in or out of service, we have resolved to continue to serve the nation and keep the entity as one united country.”
He said that Nigeria is endowed with abundant human and material resources which needed to be harnessed for the good of all citizens.
“It is incontrovertible that my eight-year tenure as President of the Senate witnessed stability and unity in the contemporary history of Nigerian politics, because we acted in tandem with the wishes and aspirations of the people.”