*SALUTE TO A FATHER @77: LESSONS FROM A GREAT MIND!*
77 is believed, rightly or wrongly, to be of great spiritual and mystical value and relevance. The human age of 77 has therefore been treated with great reverence. I have therefore chosen to join the foray of multitudes who will use this opportunity of the 77th birthday of the Most Distinguished Former Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief David A.B Mark, to celebrate a very unique human being. Mine will dwell on the UNIQUE LESSONS which I have had the opportunity of learning and imbibing from him since I became close to him about twenty five years ago. Invariably this also serves as a Silver Jubilee celebration for me.
Chief, Sen. Dr. David Aliechenu Bonaventure Mark
Distinguished Senator David Mark and I happen to come from the same clan of the Otukpo Kingdom in Central Nigeria. Surprisingly, he only got to realise this a few years ago despite my closeness to him over the years. This is probably the lesson I should mention last, but I wish to bring it up quickly for fear that it might slip my memory. Mark is a man who has always believed in the ability and capability of a person rather than where the person hails from. In our national context, this is certainly unique.
One of the earliest lessons I learnt from Senator David Mark, which I have also very graciously imbibed, is the art of listening. I noticed this during the frequent numerous meetings and social gatherings around the returnee exile in September 1998. I made many trips to Otukpo, as a staff writer with New Nigeria Newspapers then, to cover these meetings as Mark’s house became the center of Benue politics from where all political decisions were arrived at. It surprised me initially that the man, known as a tough soldier, could sit quietly for hours on end, listening to all the mostly nonsensical gibberish of politicians. He sometimes attended up to ten different meetings in one night, especially before his declaration for the PDP.
This art of being able to calmly sit and listen to whatever the other person has to say(no matter how sensible the person is and no matter how long he takes), has become one of his most pronounced character traits which I am still trying to master as I see it as a virtue which has the propensity to attract people.
Chief, Sen. Dr. David Aliechenu Bonaventure Mark
The philosophy of teaching people how to fish as preferable to giving them fish is another unique lesson I have imbibed from my association with the great mind which has manifested on earth as David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark, fondly simply called DMark by his teeming admirers. The man has always been open to granting assistance to self development investment strategies, but expressing serious aversion to just “dashing” people money, as our modern day politicians are want to do. He would pay school fees to any level of educational attainment as far as the student showed commitment. Unfortunately, because of the social milieu which we exist in, where there is unequalled hankering for free money, Mark is frequently labelled as “stingy” despite all his contributions to the development of uncountable individuals. It is a great lesson in the manner our societal priorities have been largely misplaced.
I also, in my small way, do not mind being misrepresented in this regard as I am against undue financial dependence on others.
Working with Senator David Mark at the National Assembly opened my eyes to the life lesson that trust and responsibility are some of the greatest ingredients that oil the wheels for optimal performance by subordinates. My Boss cultivated a culture of pushing decisions(some quite influential) to me to take on his behalf. That he agreed with my positions on such numerous policy formulations, which I experienced coming into play, was always such a big boost to my performance aptitude, propelling me towards higher achievements and accolades. Of course there were times I had sleepless nights, and at times I had to give up much of my cherished leisures, in order to stay ontop of the performance game. It always paid off anyway.
What really endeared me to this man in the first place?
As a committed Awoist(believer in the developmental philosophy of the late sage Obafemi Awolowo), I had perceived during my very early interactions with Retired Brigadier General David Mark that he gravitated towards making The People the nucleus of development, especially the educational upliftment of the masses. This deepened my respect upon my discovery that as Military Governor of Niger State he instituted free and compulsory education for the girl child up to University level. His ideas about integrated rural development also tended towards the UPN manifesto. I felt at home thereafter.
Chief, Sen. Dr. David Aliechenu Bonaventure Mark
Some more lessons which I took to higher levels consequent upon working with Senator Mark included the virtues of one hundred percent loyalty; complete dedication and commitment to assignments; forthrightness; eye for details; humility; and attachment to research, as well as resilience. As a practising journalist most of these concepts were already part of me, but with DMark they were stretched to their limits. Being the most senior staff in the office, especially before he ascended the exalted position of Senate President, I had the unique privilege (a most tasking one though) of being the first official person to see our Boss in the morning, and the last in the night. His schedule determined my own schedule. Gratefully it did not take long for my system to adjust to his unconventional lifestyle. Practical journalism had already given me a headstart.
Perhaps what I would regard as the greatest lesson I have imbibed from my Boss is unflinching trust in God and the total belief that whatever happens is the will of God. In the course of my association with Senator Mark, I kept noticing that nothing ever shook him. I have never seen him on edge or in panic mood. Till today. Things came to a head in 2007 during the build-up to the general elections. All other PDP aspirants had purchased their nomination forms for the Senatorial primary election. Except Senator David Mark. Calls were coming to me from all directions asking if my Boss was not going to run anymore. I had expressed people’s concerns to him a couple of times but he kept telling me not to bother. A retired General, who had bought a form to contest, even went to town with the story that Senator Mark had no money to buy form. All our supporters were worried. I had never experienced such group anxiety. Then, on the day nomination was scheduled to close, my phone buzzed at 5am. It was my Boss calling me to go to Makurdi to purchase his form. That afternoon, I was worrying my head off how I would be able to go round our nine local government areas for the form to be signed by nominators when Radio Nigeria network news at 4pm announced a two-weeks extension of nomination.
At the end, Senator David Mark won the primary election without any real campaign. He had trusted everything to God and was ready to accept whatever outcome. He lost a substantial ratio of supporters due to his late declaration, but he still went on to win not only the main election but the Senate Presidency that year.
It is impossible to tell all the unique stories about Chief David A.B Mark in a single write-up. My own memoirs will do a better job.
However, one of the areas I pride myself in is being able largely to produce error-free documents. That has become one of the greatest benefits I have attained from working with DMark. His ability to detect errors in documents is, at best, legendary. And the speed with which he is able to peruse even voluminous documents, uncanny. This made me to up my already high proofreading skill to such a level capable of beating his telescopic eyes. It has since stuck with me. I cannot thank him enough for pushing me to hone my skill in this direction, as I keep getting commendations from many people.
One of the humorous sayings of Senator David Mark that I easily recall is that one does not dream all his dreams in one night. So it is with this piece on the unique lessons that have come out of my association with the man. I cannot use one write-up to capture everything. The more I write the more I remember what to include. Now it just came to my mind that the efficacy of silence must be added to the virtues imbibed. So also is the special place of humour in life.
Working with Senator Mark is a very special school on its own. It could be fun. It could also be scary, especially if one’s capability is on a downward trend. At the end of a semester (2 years) in the DMark Life Training Camp, any student from there can cope with any situation anywhere in the world.
At this juncture, I must very humbly thank God Almighty for the gift of Most Distinguished Senator David A.B Mark and the opportunity of experiencing his tutelage at the time I did. May our merciful Lord grant him many many more years in excellent health and unending divine blessings, so that we may continue to tap from his extraordinary wealth of knowledge.
Seventy-seven happy cheers to my Boss, my Father, and my Mentor!
The man who is clearly far ahead of his time!!
Steve Ogwu Anyebe.
