Play by the rules, Mark urges politicians

By Peter Duru
MAKURDI—As the next general elections draw nearer, Senate President Dr. David Alechenu Mark has urged Nigerian politicians to play the game by the rules and desist from the ‘do or die’ kind of politics.

Mark counseled that politicians should learn to love one another even in the face of divergent political leanings stressing that politicians should strive to leaving lasting legacies for which they would be remembered tomorrow rather than draw battle lines against one another.

According to him, “When campaigns commence please do that peacefully and if at the end of the elections you do not emerge victorious please don’t make it a do or die matter.

“We must not let hell break loose because we did not win election but rather support whoever emerges victorious so that tomorrow when you win others will also render you their support,” Mark counseled.

The Senate President, who spoke in Otukpo while hosting an end of year get together for all political stakeholders in the Benue South Senatorial District, urged all political leaders of the zone to shun politics of bickering but strive to ensure peace and stability in the zone in particular and Benue state in general.

He reiterated his commitment to the actualization of the yearnings of the people of Benue South zone especially the agitation for the creation of Apa State out of the present Benue advising the people to put aside their political differences and work in tandem with the aspirations of the generality of the people.

Mark, who lauded the development efforts of the present administration in the state noted that Governor Gabriel Suswam has delivered on his electoral promises within a very short time hence deserved a second term in office.

He said, “You don’t change a wining team, because the development we have seen in the last two and half years we did not get in the eight years of the last administration.”

The highlight of the ceremony which drew dignitaries from across party lines was the unanimous endorsement of Senator Mark for the 2011 elections.