By Henry Umoru & Inalegwu Shaibu
ABUJA — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan and governors of the 19 northern states, yesterday, threw their weight behind Senator David Mark as president of the incoming Senate.

The latest backing for the incumbent Senate president in the forthcoming leadership contest was followed by an advise from Senator Chris Adighije to the next Senate to sustain the stability of the present Senate through the election of Senator Mark as president.

Also yesterday, the League of Idoma Professors expressed support for the re_election of Senator Mark as Senate president in the incoming seventh National Assembly.

The President, in a personally signed congratulatory message to Senator Mark on his re-election as a Senator obtained by Vanguard, yesterday, said he was looking forward to forming a formidable partnership with him that will drive Nigeria forward with him as Senate president.

He also described Senator Mark’s victory as an expression of the confidence of the people of Benue South senatorial district on his leadership qualities.

President Jonathan wrote: “Working together, I am confident that we successfully drive our nation’s transformation over the next four years. I assure you of the federal Government’s unstinting support as we jointly work to reposition Nigeria for her God_ordained greatness.”

The northern governors on their part at the end of an emergency meeting in Abuja, called for the preservation of the present zoning formula which threw up Mark as Senate president and the re-election of the incumbent Senate president.

The resolve of the Northern Governors was made known by the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu.

While calling on Nigerians to sustain the present zoning arrangement of national offices, Aliyu said: “We also support the zoning formula that has been adopted as the national life by the government and the ruling party, the PDP and particularly, we support the National Assembly zoning which has recognised the excellent work of President of the Senate, President David Mark and we urge that all the zoning formula should be adopted properly and we are in support of that.”

Governors of Niger, Zamfara, Benue, Kaduna, Plateau, Kebbi, Bauchi, Jigawa and three Deputy Governors attended the meeting, even as they moved to the Presidential villa immediately after the meeting for further consultation with President Goodluck Jonathan.

Senator Adighije, now Abia State Commissioner at the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC on his part also yesterday expressed confidence in the leadership ability of Senator Mark saying that the next Senate would be ill-advised not to allow Senator Mark continue as Senate President. While noting what he described as Mark’s sterling leadership qualities, Adighije said:

“There is no doubt that Senator Mark has brought a positive change in the leadership and stability of the Senate. The unprecedented stability in the Senate is an attribute of Senator David Mark which the nation cannot afford to lose at this time and I will urge my distinguished colleagues of the 7th Senate to allow Mark partner with President Jonathan in the onerous task ahead,” Adighije said yesterday.

“Mark has brought a new culture of purposefulness to the Senate and I don’t see any reason why anyone would object to this,” he added.

Meanwhile, the League of Idoma Professors in a statement signed by the coordinator, Professor Owoicho Akpa, said their support for Senator Mark stemmed from his exemplary leadership qualities.

The statement reads: “What the Senate and indeed, the National Assembly and Nigeria need now is the right kind of leadership to sustain the momentum of progress that has come with the just concluded elections.

“What has fast become the main issue in the political discourse of the National Assembly is: “who becomes the next President of the Senate?

“ There are numerous arguments for and against several choices of who should or should not be elevated to that position. This debate most also include the current leader. After all, why change a wining team.”