BY DAYO JOHNSON
AKURE – GOVERNOR Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has commended the National Assembly for rising to the occasion when the nation was on the edge of a precipice by putting in place legislations that restored sanity.

Dr Mimiko spoke while receiving Senate President, David Mark in his office during a courtesy call recalled that the National Assembly performed creditably well at a very critical time when the nation was on the edge by coming up with the doctrine of necessity, to pilot the nation to a safe berth.

He described Mark as a “stabilizer for our polity” who brought to bear on the Office of the Senate President, his wealth of experience and humility and “most importantly, mental dexterity to pilot the affairs of the Senate at the National Assembly”.

According to a statement by Dr Mimiko Chief Press Secretary, Kolawole Olabisi said “When we were perched at the edge of a precipice, when everybody thought the end was coming, people like you calling on your experience came up with the doctrine of necessity to pilot the nation back on the right path.

“ For me, that was the height of the performance of the Senate and the National Assembly and our people, our Senators have no hesitations whatsoever for you to sit and continue to pilot the affairs of the Senate.”

The Governor equally thanked the management of the national Assembly for choosing Ondo State as one of the venues for the on-going Induction Workshops for elected members of the National Assembly.

Dr Mimiko added  that it had been a wonderful experience and a tacit show of “confidence in the capability our State and the ambience of our State to host these distinguished Nigerians.”

Earlier in his remarks, the Senate President had commended the giant strides and the groundswell of encomiums being poured on Governor Mimiko owing to the spate of developmental projects he had put in place in the space of two years in office.

Mark said that “Ondo State under the labour Party government of Dr Olusegun Mimiko is working and we are glad to be associated with Your Excellency’s achievements.

We want to let you know that we will give you all the necessary support to move Ondo State forward. I know Your Excellency personally and I am sure that you are more than capable of giving dividends of democracy to the people and for us we have no misgivings that the people of Ondo State have decided to be in Labour Party; that is their preference and we are sure that Governor Mimiko is capable of giving the best to democracy to the people”.

Mark who disclosed that he was in the State to see his colleagues who are in the State for their Induction Workshop noted that he came to pay homage to the host, Dr Olusegun Mimiko whom he described as a brother and a friend and to show gratitude for his support and that of the three (3) Senators-elect on the platform of Labour Party to his candidacy as Senate President.

Meanwhile, all the Senator -Elect under the platform of Labour Party in Ondo State yesterday adopted Senator David Mark for re election as the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

A release signed by the Senator-elect (Ondo Central), Dr. Ayo Akinyelure on behalf of his colleagues, Professor Ajayi Boroface, (Ondo North)  and Barrister Boluwaji Kunlire, (Ondo South), disclosed that they unanimously resolved to adopt Senator David Mark as the Senate President, “after due consideration and consultation with leadership of the Labour Party, both in the State and the National level to carry on the mantle of leadership of the 7th National Assembly at the Upper Chamber. “

According to them, Senator David Mark had risen above his Party line and has demonstrated, over the years, patriotism as a true Nigerian leader of  substance, and easily the most experienced longest serving Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

They described him as highly disciplined with accumulated years of legislative and outstanding leadership qualities to lead the upper Chamber of the 7th National Assembly for overall development of our Great Nation, Nigeria.

Further, they noted that Mark has the best political credentials to lead the present Senate to greater heights, members of which were democratically elected on one man, one vote in the just concluded April, 2011 General Elections.

“l these attributes put together has informed our decision to give him our full support as true democrats.
“ We, therefore, as Senators-Elect from Ondo State urge all our Distinguished colleagues from South West to rise up and give Senator David Mark their support for re-election.