By steve anyebe.
Former Senate President David Mark is a man of many worlds. From a relatively young age he started making news headlines at national and international stages, especially as an intelligent, fearless, and dependable army officer. By 1999 when he ventured into the murky waters of Nigerian politics, he had already cut a special niche for himself in Nigeria as a highly influential individual with unequalled national reach socially. He had at various times, between 1970 and 1993, been, among other positions, Chairman of Abandoned Properties Committee in Eastern Nigeria; Commandant, Nigerian Army Corps of Signals; State Military Administrator; and Minister of the Federal Republic, a feat attained only by a few Nigerians who are his contemporaries. The young David Mark’s natural flair for making friends inadvertently led him to establish and maintain relationships with numerous people (both military and civilian) which became great assets later in life. Today, at 78, he is undoubtedly an enigma, feared by some, hated by others, trusted and distrusted by many, loved and respected in some quarters, but largely misunderstood.
On the home front, in Benue South Senatorial District, also referred to as Benue Zone C, the name David Mark had already become household by 1999 when he contested and won the only Senatorial seat alloted to the geographical area occupied by those broadly classified and known as Idoma people. This was as he came back from a self-imposed exile during a five-year period when he was regarded as the most prized and feared fugitive in Nigeria. While in the military, from where he voluntarily retired in 1993, Mark had successfully deployed his acquired massive influence and goodwill to attract some notable projects to his home. A telecommunications Engineer, he had already demonstrated his belief in education and technological innovation as the bedrock of societal development, as seen in Niger State when he was Military Governor and as Minister of Communication. Consequently, through David Mark’s lobby, Otukpo town enjoyed digital telephoning before most Northern Nigerian cities, while two federal colleges were sited in Idomaland and some township streets got paved in tar. In addition, he had set his community on the path of development with the launching of the Otukpo District Development Association in 1985 resulting in the establishment of some rural health centres in the community. The attendance of that 1985 event was a strategic message to the status and respect Mark had already garnered across Nigeria and beyond.
Upon return from exile to Otukpo on 5th September 1998, the whole political equation in Benue State completely changed. The moment General David Mark (rtd) declared for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), political activities in Benue not only moved from the hitherto more popular ANPP but Otukpo and David Mark’s GRA residence became the political decision point of the State. Mark, with the active support of his bosom friend (late Chief Andrew Agom) and the youthful Lawyer Godwin Obla, changed the status quo. He invariably pulled Benue State to PDP which won the Presidential Election in 1999 and formed the national government. Mark also became a Senator, Senate President between 2007 and 2015 (setting the record as the only Nigerian Senate President to get re-elected unopposed and serve two consecutive tenures), and exited the red chambers only in 2019 as the longest serving legislator.
All these political accomplishments were no doubt attributable to the friendships Senator David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark had made throughout Nigeria, which has resulted in tremendous goodwill and respect. There are few Nigerians with such a stature and command. It is therefore not surprising that Benue State is emerging as one of the strongest strongholds of the African DemocraticCongress(ADC).
With the problems of the PDP worsening by the day, especially after the 2015 election which President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan graciously conceded to General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), and most especially after the 2023 general elections, and considering the need to rescue Nigeria from political and economic downturn, many patriotic Nigerians have left their various political parties and coalesced in the ADC. Senator David Mark easily became the arrowhead of the coalition, leveraging on his established long-term political brotherhood across the country. Like many other colleagues of his now in ADC, Mark left PDP after tremendous contributions. Infact, at a point when many deserted the Party for personal benefits, he became known as “The Last Man Standing”. So for him to eventually take the hard decision to leave PDP is regarded as a very serious matter of national interest. This is because Mark has been known as an astute strategist always far ahead of his time. For many Nigerians David Mark has been a man who only takes decisions after the most careful of considerations and critical analysis. Reason why many have said that Mark is a man who can be followed by his followers blindfolded because of his integrity and genuineness of purpose.
From the foregoing, it is therefore understandable that Nigerians are moving in swaths to the ADC from other political parties, especially from the PDP where Senator David Mark had built a large followership due to his antecedents. Birds of the same feathers, they say, flock together!
Yet the legacies Senator David Mark has left behind in the PDP remain convincing artefacts that can also be leveraged upon as achievements of the PDP in convincing the electorate in lower cadre elections. Those achievements must essentially be seen as Party policies.
As the days go by and political events steadily progress towards the final crescendo in 2027 more entrants will surely move into the ADC even as there seems to be an unfolding establishment conspiracy against any iota of opposition.
Yet despite the positive influence of former Senate President David A.B Mark in the development of the ADC as a formidable political party, the one million dollar question that quickly arises is how many of those at the leadership levels of the Party at all levels can boast of the qualities that make him attractive politically? With the benefits of hindsight these qualities would include, but not limited to, steadiness of character; political inclusiveness; social cohesion; intellectualism; human capital development; and especially proactiveness. But perhaps, Mark’s most effective weapon politically has been his inelastic ability to listen so much and talk so little, making him highly unpredictable and psychologically far ahead of most people, with an uncanny ability to read your mind while keeping his own mind to himself. In a country where political practice seems to be predicated mostly upon the advancement of selfish personal interests, to the detriment of public progress, it will be only a matter of time for more internal contradictions to rear heads and cause more movements out again.
Followership and adherence to internal party democracy is another factor likely to derail the formidable vision of the coalition before long, as ethnicity, religion and money continue to play destructive but leading roles in Nigerian politics.
How Distinguished Senator David Mark and his influence succeed or not in 2027 will have deep impact moving forward in Nigeria. Right now all eyes are on the ADC, and a prime factor that is likely to determine the future of the coalition is who becomes its Presidential Candidate. David Mark is once again at a very decisive moment in the evolution of the country. But such moments are not new to him! Nigerians are watching again with keen interest as he tries to prove that at 78 he can be wiser, stronger, and more pragmatic than ever before. Or, on the other hand, prove that he is but a mere mortal, who is also subject to all human frailties.
End. 08/04/2026.
