David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark Clocks 65.What Has He Achieved So Far? Get The Full Details Here.

For the President of the Senate, Senator David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark, the Okpokpowulu K’Idoma, attaining age 65 is only deserving of giving praises to God in the church. No parties. No aso ebi. Not even invitation cards to invite friends to join him in the praises of God.
His choice of celebration is to play golf at the Otukpo Golf and Country Club, St. Mark, Akpegede, Otukpo, Benue State, because the mood of the nation calls for a sober reflection.
My first encounter with Senator Mark was at the Soweto Block of the National Assembly Complex. He spoke straight and did not hide his passion for truth. He said his brother (Senator Tunde Ogbeha) had spoken to him about me “but you need to prove the attributes which Tunde (Senator Ogbeha) used to describe you.”
He related with me not like the Niger State military governor whose fitting beret bore a green plume but like that ordinary Nigerian who lived next to me in the neighbourhood. Needless to say that I became attached to him from that very first day in 2001 and I have received tremendous encouragement from him and my uncle, Senator Ogbeha.
My deployment to cover the Senate in 2003 by THISDAY newspapers provided the elixir. Every legislative day provided an opportunity for me to interact, criticise or commend Senator Mark. Unlike many ‘big men’ in our country, he never protested my criticisms. Rather, he would invite me and my brother, Abuja Editor of Daily Independent Newspaper, Sam Akpe, for his committee oversights and meetings, not minding what our views of those sessions would be.
This tradition was maintained till 2007 when the race for President of the Senate began. I remember that as Senator Mark trots round the geo-political zones to rally the support of his colleagues for the 7th Senate, the meat of his discussion was that he would be “honest, transparent, fair and will ensure that there is equity and justice and above all, preside with the fear of God.”
Those words were the hallmark of his exemplary leadership whether in the military or Senate. On his first election as the President of the Senate, he was persuaded to buy a bullet-proof car for his use. His reaction s sharp; “can we buy one for each of the 109 senators and 360 members of the House of Representatives?” Since the answer was in the negative, he struck off the idea with a sentence; “anybody who is determined to kill will only wait for me to alight from the bullet-proof car.”
Senator Mark is an apostle of frugal spending of government funds.
In December 2007, he ensured the return of N7 billion unspent votes of the Senate back to Federal Government coffers. Those who relate with him on finances of the National Assembly have many stories to tell. This is often subsumed in one sentence—the man is too careful.
The history of National Assembly will record Senator Mark as a jinx breaker as his tenure has witnessed constitutional amendments, which prior to his ascendancy as President of the Senate, appeared unrealistic, while his doctrine of necessity rescued this nation from an impending catastrophe. He is a champion of an independent National Assembly that collaborates with the Executive in achieving democratic derivable that will guarantee a better life for the citizenry.
In achieving this feat, Senator Mark led the National Assembly to secure its financial independence from the executive and has gingered the state assemblies to garner support for their own independence in the forthcoming constitution amendment exercise.
He also retains the respect of being the first and only President of the Senate who has kept a very cordial relationship with his home state governor thereby helping to strengthen the political stability of the nation.
As the most experienced senator in the chamber, Senator Mark has sponsored or co-sponsored very important bills like the Anti-Corruption Bill: Niger Delta Bill; Minimum Wage Bill; Free Universal Primary Education Bill; among many others.
In his Benue South Senatorial District constituency, he has facilitated several Federal Government projects like the Oju-Otukpo-Oweto Road: the rehabilitation of the Aliede-Otukpo- Otukpa Road; the N18bn Otobi Dam project; building and rehabilitation of schools; establishment of St. Mark’s Golf Academy, Akpegede among many others. Through his David Mark’s Scholarship Foundation, (DMSF) no fewer than 11,000 students have benefitted from bursary awards across Benue State. He has encouraged sports through his Apa United Football Club and Apa Queen as well as the annual Mark D’Ball Basketball Tournament.
Among all these, nothing fascinates me like his stance on truth and honesty. He has no respects for liars and dubiety. His passion for truth and honesty is magnetic. “
You must say the truth always no matter whose ox is gored and accept your mistakes where you are wrong. These attributes, Senator Mark would always contend, are universal morals that civilisation cannot wish away.
I wish you a happy birthday and pray that the Lord increases your good health and wisdom in the years ahead.
Ologbondiyan is the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Senate President