Mark charges military to reclaim lost territory

Senate President David Mark yesterday tasked the Armed Forces to brace up to the critical security situation  ochestrated by Boko Haram.

He urged them to reclaim some communities in the North East  said to have been taken over by the sect.

Mark, according to a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, in Abuja, told a crowded audience at the graduation ceremony of the  61 Regular Course of the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna that the nation is at a critical moment.

He said: “Our peaceful and corporate existence is threatened by insurgency, terrorism and sheer criminality.”

He lamented that the war against terrorism has already taken a severe toll on the lives, finance and economy of the nation, stressing that “huge resources that would have been used for national development are now being diverted to fight insurgency and terrorism.”

In the face of all these challenges, however, the Senate President assured that “we will never relent in keeping this country one.”

He added that ethnic, political, sectional and religious problems complicate issues in Nigeria. A solution to it, he said,  demands that all hands must be on deck to tackle it.

He warned politicians against playing politics with the nation’s security and unity, pointing out that “politicians, irrespective of ideological or party affiliations, should remember that politics can only be played when Nigeria exists as a corporate entity and is in peace.”

He berated those fanning the embers of war and disunity and stressed that “Nigeria is not an accident. It has pleased the Almighty God to put us together as one and it is our solemn duty to nurture Nigeria to her full potential.”

According to Mark, “the future still holds greater promise if only we could put our differences behind us and work together as one people.

“With greater commitment and resolve, I have no doubt in my mind that Nigeria will be one of the world’s super powers.”

He assured that the National Assembly will continue to give all the support to the military to win this asymmetrical war  just as he urged Nigerians to cooperate with the armed forces to succeed.

Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, and first indigenous Commandant of the NDA, Gen. David Ejoor, were awarded honorary doctoral degrees at the convocation ceremony for their meritorious services to the nation.

Commandant of NDA, Maj-Gen. Mohammed Idris promised that the school will continue to live up to its billing, improving on research and knowledge as important ingredients for national development

Credit : The Nation