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David Mark: Author of Doctrine of Necessity @ 77
By Paul Mumeh
David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark, a retired Army General and President of the 6th and 7th Senate (2007-2011 & 2011-2015), Federal Republic of Nigeria, is 77 (April 8, 2025). He is unarguably an accomplished soldier and a successful politician.
As a soldier, he rose to the commanding height of his chosen profession; a Brigadier-General and Director of Signals, Nigerian Army and as a politician, he rose to the position of President of the Senate, ranking as number three citizen in Nigeria.
There are very few men and women in Nigeria who arguably fit into the double successful sojourn of Senator David Mark.
Though he is no longer in active politics, he pledged to continue to be a bridge builder across the federation. For him, what makes for peace, unity and progress in Nigeria will always be his mission and purpose.
He has also decided to remain a mentor to the younger generation on leadership, teaching core national values of patriotism, democratic tenets and principles, good governance and the rule of law through the David Mark School of Political Mentorship.
Born on the 8th of April, 1948, in the agrarian Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State of Nigeria, Senator Mark started his elementary education at St. Francis Catholic Practicing School, Otukpo, from 1956 to 1961. He then proceeded to the prestigious Nigerian Military School (NMS), Zaria, from 1962 to 1966 and, in the process, set off to achieve his ambition for a military career. Young David Mark was later admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Regular Course 3 and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in 1970.
Senator Mark surged for further professional training in the United Kingdom and India from 1971 to 1976 and bagged a bachelor’s Degree in Telecommunications Engineering from the Military College of Telecommunications Engineering Mhow (India). Between 1978 and 1979, he was a student at the Command and Staff College, Jaji and between 1990 and 1991, he was at the National Defence University in Washington DC and later at Harvard University, Boston, USA from 1991-1992.
During a sterling military career, Senator Mark held various Staff, Command and Administrative appointments in the Nigerian Army. Some of these include but are not limited to Directing Staff, Command and Staff College, Commander Corps of Signals and Faculty Director, National War College (NWC), now National Defence College (NDC), Abuja.
Senator Mark also held extra-curricular appointments while in the military. He was appointed the Chairman of the very challenging Abandoned Properties Implementation Committee in the 1970s. In his capacity as Chairman, he effectively supervised the implementation of the Federal Government White Paper on the controversial abandoned properties in the old Eastern Region, now the South-South (Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers) and South Eastern States (Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo).
As a Lieutenant Colonel, he was appointed Military Governor of Niger State in 1984 under General Muhammadu Buhari’s military government. His tenure was characterized by the conceptualization and implementation of brilliant ideas, bold actions and courageous initiatives which set Niger State on the path of development. Pertinent to note, is the introduction of the compulsory girl-child education, an initiative that earned Niger state the Number one position in the promotion of the girl-child education. To date, Niger State has the highest number of Educated females among the 19 Northern States of Nigeria on account of the education policy introduced by Mark.
Appointed Minister of Communications in 1988, Senator Mark set the tone for the modernization of the communications sector in Nigeria by introducing mobile phones and digital telephone systems in the country. He also reorganized NIPOST and started the city coding system. The Nigeria Telecommunications (NITEL) was removed from the Civil Service Structure, and the staff welfare package was improved significantly. He also built two ultra-modern digital earth stations in Lagos and Enugu from internally generated revenue without recourse to Federal Government allocation.
It is pertinent to note that during Mark’s stint as Communications Minister, there was a remarkable revolution in the sector. Mark had sought the permission of then Commander-In-Chief, General Ibrahim Babangida to disconnect subscribers indebted to the NITEL because of the huge debt bedeviling the services. He wanted efficient and sustainable telephone services for the country.
He had warned that those who own lines must pay bills or get disconnected. He kept faith with that promise and debtors had their lines disconnected. His efforts to explain the issue that the telephone is not for charity were misconstrued that “telephone is not for the poor.” No, he wanted a viable NITEL capable of providing good services. But decades later, in the era of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), where subscribers prepay for services, Nigerians would appreciate and give kudos to Mark as a man who saw tomorrow. Who will today make phone calls without a prepaid (credit) cell phone?
Senator Mark’s pet project has been on Education. For him, Education liberates the people and opens doors for prosperity and development. In his quest to give education to his constituents, he awards scholarships to students from post-primary to tertiary institutions. Since 2005 when he floated the scholarship scheme, over 30,000 persons through his “David Mark Scholarship Foundation (DMSF)” have benefited. Most of the beneficiaries were indigents, orphans and people with special needs who may have been denied access to education for no fault of theirs.
For his commitment towards bringing education to the doorstep of his people, Senator Mark built and donated an edifice for the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) study centre in Otukpo, Benue State. He had built and renovated many classroom blocks across the nine local government areas of his Benue South Senatorial District.
While in the Senate, Senator Mark sponsored many bills, the chief of which was an Act for the Establishment of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO). This bill eventually, led to the establishment of the University when President Muhammadu Buhari assented to it. The institution was the first of its kind in Nigeria, and it is turning Otukpo into a medical hub.
He has always believed that the best investment is human capital development. He established Skills Acquisition Centres across the nine local government areas of his constituency to train hundreds of women and youths in various trades. On several occasions, Mark empowered women and youths through the distribution of tools like Cars, Motorcycles, sewing machines, grinding machines, and generator sets, amongst others.
As a sports enthusiast, Mark has empowered many Nigerians through sports. He sponsors an annual Mark D’Ball basketball tournament which has changed the lives of many youths who now reside overseas pursuing their professional careers in the game. In the same vein, he also established the Apa United (Male) and Apa Queens (Female) football clubs. Similarly, trainees at the David Mark International Golf Academy have represented Nigeria in many international competitions. These young lads (fondly called The Lion Cubs) are given intense training by professional golfers and have shown total dominance at all the events they participated.
On infrastructure, Mark influenced the construction of the Loko-Oweto bridge and road network linking Benue, Nasarawa and Abuja. This project is a link between the North and the Southern part of Nigeria.
Mark also influenced the construction of the multi-billion naira Otobi Multi-purpose water dam, which had the twin advantages of providing water and generating electricity to serve the entire Benue South and its neighbouring communities.
Senator Mark also donated several 300KVA Transformers to many communities in all the nine local government areas of Benue South under the Rural Electrification Projects. This, he believed, would facilitate the economic development of the people in the zone.
In communication, Mark built a radio station (Joy FM, 96.5), in Otukpo, Benue State. A platform for education, entertainment and information dissemination to the people. This Radio station remains the first privately owned radio station in the North Central Region of Nigeria.
Other infrastructure includes but is not limited to an 18-hole International Golf Course in Otukpo, donated free of charge to the community, the International Standard Football Stadium (under construction) in Akpegede, Otukpo; Establishment of numerous Primary Healthcare Centres and Clinics; construction of roads and solar street lights.
During his stint as chairman of the National Assembly, he influenced the construction of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) complex in Abuja, designed for institutional capacity building for legislators and their aides in the country. This infrastructure is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, which include ICT Centres, libraries, recreational Centres, clinics, lecture halls and a one-thousand-capacity event centre.
“Mr Stability” was his appellation while he was leading the National Assembly. This was orchestrated by his stewardship and team spirit towards his colleagues and his ability to arrest pressing challenges to stabilize the polity.
Under his watch, the National Assembly broke the jinx by amending the 1999 constitution of Nigeria, which has set the pace for the growth and development of our democracy.
A visionary and purposeful Mark, along with his colleagues, set the pace for the establishment of the Amnesty Programme and the creation of the Ministry of Niger Delta through the Senate retreat held in Port Harcourt back in 2007. This event was a deft legislative masterstroke where Mark provided the solution to a complex national problem.
The invocation of the “Doctrine of Necessity” by the National Assembly under the chairmanship of Mark in February 2010 led to the swearing-in of the then Vice President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as Acting President of Nigeria. This singular act earned Mark a place of honour in the Hall of Fame amongst Nigeria’s greats.
Reflecting on the journey so far, Mark affirmed that he has been exceptionally favoured by God and will continue to serve God and humanity in the years ahead. Nigeria he said, has been fair to him, submitting that in or out of Government, he will continue to serve his fatherland.
In 2019 when he finally took a bow from the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly (after 20 years) just like King David in the Holy Bible, he built an edifice for St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, Otukpo, Benue State and dedicated it to the Almighty God in appreciation to God for his accomplishments in life.
Mark’s place as a patriot, true nationalist, detribalized Nigerian, social and political strategist of no mean standing is unarguably assured in the annals of Nigerian history.
And Mark, statesman per excellence, marches on @ 77 today.
Happy birthday to the Author of Doctrine of Necessity.
*Mumeh writes from Abuja.
The most remarkable and halcyon spectacle of good governance in the present Republic is unarguably the government of Enugu State under the watch of Dr Peter Mbah. Ndi’Enugu are clearly unanimous in the praise and appreciation of the commitment of their Governor to make real the promises of democracy.
The Peter Mbah led government has redefined governance in so many ways that every so often the trophy cabinet of the State government calls for regular review and rework as monstrous accolades stream in almost on a daily basis. Enugu State has become the lead example of exemplary and servant oriented leadership. And Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah is without an ounce of doubt a homo sequentum.
Have you googled Enugu State to see the remarkable strides in Agriculture? Have you searched the internet to see the monstrous strides in Infrastructural Development? Have you heard of the unassailable commitment of the Enugu State Government to the protection of lives and property? Have you heard of the Digitalised Control Centre that works for seamless synergy between Security Agencies in the State? Have you seen the beautiful Smart Schools that define the commitment of the Enugu State Government to Education? Have you read about the monumental investment of Enugu State in Healthcare, and the Healthcare Centres springing up across the Wards in Enugu State?
Have you seen the Cargo Wing of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport targeted at opening new frontiers for business? Have you seen the ongoing International Conference Centre and the Five Star Hotel project, with the profound intention of making Enugu State the go-to destination for Business, and for leisure? Have you seen the commitment of the State to Arts, Culture and Tourism? Have you seen the resurgence of Pipe Borne Water in Enugu State, and are you aware that no State in Nigeria comes near Enugu State in the restoration of Pipe Borne Water? Have you seen the level of work on both urban and rural roads that has turned Enugu State into a huge construction site? And have you seen the olympic strides of the State government in Skill Acquisition, Human Capital Development, and Empowerment? Do you think that the popular refrain THE FUTURE IS HERE is masturbatory? Folks, without a shade of equivocation Enugu State is the lucid manifestation of the greatness that responsible and responsive leadership engenders.
Within the past 6 months the Enugu State Government have been first in almost every parameter and sector of governance. Peter Mbah has been Governor of the Year. Enugu State has led the pack in Infrastructural development. Enugu State tops the chart in Healthcare, in Education, and in the commitment to the Security of lives and property. Yes, laudable laurels and trophies litter the Enugu tapestry, thanks to the unalterable commitment of the Governor to make Enugu State profoundly better than he met it.
The awesome strides of the Peter Mbah led government of Enugu State are so manifest that even the fiercest opponent of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah in the 2023 contestation for the high office of Governor, Barrister Chijioke Edeoga of the Labour Party has returned to the Governor’s Party, the Peoples Democratic Party PDP. And in doing so, Edeoga was emphatic about the great strides of the Peter Mbah led government. Edeoga was forthright in his call for Ndi’Enugu to support ‘the man who knows the way’, and ‘to stand with the man whose commitment to an Enugu State that works for all is without blemish.’
Edeoga’s return to the PDP and his profound testimony about the man that is consistently Making A Difference MAD in Enugu State enamours; and very striking however is the recent endorsement of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah by the leaders of Nsukka Community, and take note that Nsukka is arguably the largest voter demography in Enugu State.
In endorsing and applauding the Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah led administration, the Nsukka Leaders noted that they are overwhelmed by the strides of the government in Infrastructural Development, in Healthcare, in Education, in Urban and Rural Development, in Skill Acquisition and Human Capital Development, and in improving the general well-being of Ndi’Enugu.
Need I tell you that as the endorsements stream in, the humble People’s Governor of Enugu State has remained focused, Unfazed and committed to the promises that he made to Ndi’Enugu during the 2023 campaign season. To Governor Peter Mbah there is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off. And he is unwilling to allow the blinding lights of sycophants and Court-jesters derail his vision and dream of an Enugu State that meets the standards of a highly progressive world. To Peter Mbah The FUTURE IS HERE.
And to all advocates of good governance and servant oriented leadership I commend the watchman in the saddle at the Government House in Enugu, knowing that when in unison we applaud all vistas of good governance on our political kaleidoscope, we shall be redefining thereto the moral and ideological minimums of leadership in Nigeria.
To Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah a heart of love and admiration. And to Ndi’Enugu I say, The Future Is Here.
Prof Chris Mustapha Nwaokobia Jnr
Convener COUNTRYFIRST MOVT.
A Good Governance Advocacy Group.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, has announced that more than 4,000 women have benefited from the Federal Government’s free Cesarean section (C-section) initiative since its inauguration.
Pate disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during a media conference marking the 2025 Safe Motherhood Day.
The theme of this year’s celebration is “Innovating for Safer Birth: A Collective Responsibility to Crash Maternal Mortality,” with the slogan “Care for Moms, Hope for the Babies.”
Celebrated annually on April 11, Safe Motherhood Day aims to raise awareness about maternal health.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in November 2024, Pate revealed that the Federal Government would offer free C-sections for all women in need, as part of efforts to reduce maternal mortality.
This initiative is part of the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives (MAMII) project, which aims to improve access to quality healthcare and reduce maternal and newborn mortality rates.
Pate emphasized that the government was committed to ensuring no woman dies during childbirth and that every newborn receives the care and dignity they deserve.
He outlined several ongoing government efforts to ensure safe deliveries, including the Health Sector Renewal Investment initiative, which addressed long-standing challenges in the health system.
“Under this initiative, we have strengthened the Primary Health Care system to ensure better access to quality maternal, newborn, and child health services.
“We are scaling up Comprehensive Emergency Maternal, Obstetric, and Newborn Care, especially for indigent and vulnerable populations.
“More than 4,000 women have already received cesarean sections, treated, and reimbursed through the National Health Insurance Authority’s emergency obstetric care programme,” Pate explained.
He said that the government had also expanded coverage of skilled birth attendants in underserved areas and broadened health insurance coverage.
“The National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System has been strengthened, with 23 states empaneled.
“Additionally, the Free Fistula Programme, offering free repair, care, and transportation, is currently active in 15 facilities.”
Pate noted that these reforms were already showing positive results, with improved health indicators in several states.
Addressing the theme of Safe Motherhood Day, Pate called on all Nigerians to take responsibility for ensuring safer childbirth for every woman, regardless of her background or location.
Country Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Walter Mulombo, also spoke on behalf of development partners.
He emphasised that safe motherhood started with comprehensive health security and called for continued investment in maternal and newborn health services, particularly in hard-to-reach areas.
He urged the government to enact and uphold laws that would protect women’s and children’s health rights, including maternity protection and access to sexual and reproductive health services.
The event culminated in the launch of key policy and guideline documents aimed at advancing safe motherhood.
These included the Safe Motherhood Strategy (2024-2028), Guidelines for Managing Postpartum Hemorrhage, Preeclampsia and Eclampsia Guidelines, Essential Gynaecological Skills Manuals, and the National Training Manual for Obstetric Fistula Management.
NAN also reports that these documents underscore the government’s commitment to building a resilient, people-centered health system that proactively addresses maternal health challenges.(NAN)
Zamfara State Elders Forum has criticised Governor Dauda Lawal Dare for attempting to take credit for recent security improvements in the region, accusing him of political opportunism and failing to deliver on campaign promises.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Zamfara Elders Forum, through its secretary Dr Alhaji Umaru Yusuf Tsafe, described the governor’s actions as “misleading” and a display of “inconsistency and opportunism.”
The group alleged that Lawal had reneged on his 2023 election pledge to end insecurity in Zamfara within a month, instead shifting blame to the federal government when the situation worsened under his leadership.
“Governor Lawal rode into office on the back of promises he has completely failed to deliver,” Tsafe said, noting that the governor had previously campaigned by blaming his predecessor, Bello Matawalle, for the state’s insecurity.
“Once in office, he claimed he lacked the resources to act, exposing his lack of foresight and leadership.”
The elders further accused Lawal of attempting to claim credit for recent security breakthroughs, which they attributed to the efforts, of President Bola Ahmad Tinubu,
National Security Adviser malam Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of State for Defence Dr. Bello Muhammad Matawalle, and CDS musa
“Governor Lawal neither provided meaningful support nor initiated these operations,” the statement read, labelling his actions as “political desperation.”
The forum urged the people of Zamfara to demand accountability from their leaders, stressing that the state deserves “a governor who is honest, consistent, and genuinely committed to their safety.”
They condemned Lawal’s approach as exploitative, accusing him of seeking to benefit politically from the achievements of others.