David Mark
{{short description|Nigerian politician and military officer (born 1948)}}
{{Other people}}
{{Use Nigerian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = The Right Honourable
Brigadier General
| name = David Mark
| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NG|GCON}}
| image = David Mark.jpg
| imagesize =
| alt =
| caption =
| office2 = Governor of Niger State
| term_start2 = January 1984
| term_end2 = 1986
| predecessor2 = Awwal Ibrahim
| successor2 = Garba Ali Mohammed
| office1 = Senator for Benue South
| term_start1 = 3 June 1999
| term_end1 = 9 June 2019
| predecessor1 = Ameh Ebute (1993)
| successor1 = Abba Moro
| office = 12th President of the Nigerian Senate
| term_start = 5 June 2007
| term_end = 6 June 2015
| deputy = Ike Ekweremadu
| predecessor = Ken Nnamani
| successor = Bukola Saraki
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1948|4|8|df=y}}
| birth_place = Otukpo, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now in Benue State, Nigeria)
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = Nigerian
| party = Peoples Democratic Party
| spouse =
| relations =
| children =
| residence = Abuja
| alma_mater = Nigerian Defence Academy
| occupation = {{hlist|Politician|military officer}}
| profession =
| allegiance = {{NGR}}
| branch = {{army|Nigeria}}
| serviceyears =
| rank = 20px Brigadier General
}}
David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark {{post-nominals|country=NG|GCON}} ({{Pronunciation|Yo-David Alechenu Mark.ogg|listen|(|help=no}}; born 8 April 1948){{cite web |last1=Usman |first1=Samson Atekojo |title=Senate President salutes Senator David Mark at 75 |url=https://dailypost.ng/2023/04/07/senate-president-salutes-senator-david-mark-at-75/?amp=1 |website=Daily Post |access-date=9 April 2023 |date=7 April 2023 }}{{cite web |last1=Akintola |first1=Kehinde |title=Gbajabiamila salutes David Mark at 75 |url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/gbajabiamila-salutes-david-mark-at-75/ |website=Nigerian Tribune |access-date=9 April 2023 |date=7 April 2023 }} is a retired Nigerian Army brigadier general and politician.{{Cite web|date=2016-04-08|title=David Mark: Mr. Stability @ 68|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/david-mark-mr-stability-68/|access-date=2022-02-24|website=Vanguard News|language=en-US}} He served as the 12th president of the Nigerian Senate from 2007 to 2015{{cite news |first=Stanley |last=Nkwazema |author2=Chuks Okocha |author3=Juliana Taiwo |title=House Defies PDP, Elects Bankole Speaker |url=http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=94039 |work=Thisday online |publisher=Leaders & Company |date=2007-11-02 |access-date=2007-11-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071103162057/http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=94039 |archive-date=2007-11-03 }} and was the Senator for Benue South senatorial district from 1999 to 2019.{{cite web |url=http://www.nassnig.org/senate/Personal%20data/Mark/Home.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070619024630/http://www.nassnig.org/senate/Personal%20data/Mark/Home.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-06-19 |title=Senator David Mark |access-date=2007-11-03 |publisher=National Assembly of Nigeria }} He is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).{{cite news |first=Ismail |last=Omipidan |title=Mark's landmark days in office |url=http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/powergame/2007/sept/02/powergame-02-09-2007-002.htm |work=The Sun News On-line |publisher=The Sun Publishing |date=2007-09-02 |access-date=2007-11-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016192955/http://sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/powergame/2007/sept/02/powergame-02-09-2007-002.htm |archive-date=2007-10-16 }} Prior to his senatorial career, Mark was the military Governor of Niger State from 1984 to 1986,{{Cite web|title=David Mark|url=http://www.politiciansdata.com/content/david-mark/|date=2018-05-22|website=Politicians Data|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-26}} and is a one-time minister of communication.{{Cite web|title=David Mark: Unfading Patriot, Still Championing Legacies At 72|url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/david-mark-unfading-patriot-still-championing-legacies-at-72/|last=Mumeh|first=Paul|date=2019-09-06|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-05-26}} He was the longest serving president of the Nigerian Senate.
Early life and education
Mark was born in Otukpo Benue State in April 1948. He attended St. Francis Catholic Practicing School before attending the Nigerian Military School. After that he attended the Nigerian Defence Academy.{{cite web|title=Childhood|url=http://www.senatepresident.com/bio.html#childhood|publisher=Senate President|access-date=7 May 2012}} He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1970 and became a Captain in 1971. He was Commandant of Static Communications in 1974, then later held a political post as Chairman Abandoned Properties Implementation Committee in the Eastern region in 1976.
Minister
Mark headed the Communications Ministry and its two major parastatals: Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) and Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST). As Minister of Communications, Mark was sometimes known for his blunt talk; during a two-day walking tour of facilities in Akure in 1989, some union workers complained that some of its members had not been promoted since 1978. Mark's response was that those who had not been promoted may have to be retired,Sam Egburonu. (1990). "It is High Time We Face Realities
", THISWEEK, July 2, 1990 meaning that unproductive workers will have to be let go.{{Cite web|title=David Mark|url=http://www.politiciansdata.com/content/david-mark/|date=2018-05-22|website=Politicians Data|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-28}} He also espoused the opinion of death penalty for telecom cable thieves, as well as a policy of dismantling under-utilized telecom facilities citing political considerations for giving allocations to towns with limited use of phone networks.{{Cite web|title=David Mark Biography, Previous Offices, Military History And Other Facts|url=https://buzznigeria.com/david-mark/|last=Udeze|first=Chuka|date=2018-06-25|website=BuzzNigeria - Famous People, Celebrity Bios, Updates and Trendy News|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-28}}
Senate of Nigeria
Mark was elected to his position as President of the Senate of Nigeria on 6 June 2007.{{cite news |first=Emmanuel |last= Aziken |title= Marked for Battle - Akume Battles Mark for Senate Presidency |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200710120133.html |work=Vanguard |publisher= AllAfrica Global Media|date=2007-10-12 |access-date=2007-11-03 }}
David Mark ran for re-election to the Senate for Benue South in April 2011 and was elected for a fourth term.{{cite web|date=Apr 12, 2011|work=Daily Independent|title=Mark, Tinubu, Nnamani, others greet Ngige, as APGA rejects Anambra results|author=Rotimi Akinwumi and Akinwunmi King|url=http://www.independentngonline.com/DailyIndependent/Article.aspx?id=32046}} David Mark noted that the polls pointed to his decisive victory and called for his opponents to work together to improve Nigeria.{{cite news|title=Benue: David Mark in controversial re-election win|url=http://newnigerianpolitics.com/2011/04/10/benue-david-mark-in-controversial-re-election-win/|access-date=7 May 2012|newspaper=New Nigerian Politics|date=10 April 2011|archive-date=14 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110414014252/http://newnigerianpolitics.com/2011/04/10/benue-david-mark-in-controversial-re-election-win/|url-status=dead}}
When leading the review of the Nigerian Constitution, Mark reportedly urged his colleagues to set aside their personal interests and focus on the interests of the Nigerian people.{{cite news|title=No Fixed Position On Constitution Review – David Mark |url=http://www.zimbio.com/Nigeria+Today/articles/_KV85aTyaJS/No+Fixed+Position+Constitution+Review+David |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130630180705/http://www.zimbio.com/Nigeria+Today/articles/_KV85aTyaJS/No+Fixed+Position+Constitution+Review+David |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 June 2013 |access-date=2 May 2013 |newspaper=Zimbio |date=27 April 2013 }} After the UK criticized Nigeria's Prohibition of Same-Sex Marriage bill, threatening to pull their foreign aid, Mark responded that they "should keep [their] aid."{{cite news|last=Fisher|first=Jonah|title=Nigerian leaders unite against same-sex marriages|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15992099|access-date=2 May 2013|newspaper=BBC News|date=5 December 2011}} Mark called Nigeria's National Football Federation the "centre of corruption in the country," suggesting that they may need to temporarily disband to allow for reconstruction.{{cite news|last=Okeleji|first=Oluwashina|title=NFF will not comment on corruption claims|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17239860|access-date=2 May 2013|newspaper=BBC Sport|date=2 March 2012}}
In September 2018, making plans to contest for the Nigerian presidency, Mark appointed Zainab Abdulkadir Kure as his campaign manager and Abba Ejembi as campaign's spokesperson.{{Cite web|title=David Mark makes new appointments for his campaign organization|url=https://dailypost.ng/2018/09/12/david-marks-appointments-campaign-organization/|last=Itodo|first=Yemi|date=2018-09-12|website=Daily Post Nigeria|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-05}}
Personal life
David Mark enjoys golf, tennis, and squash.{{cite web|title=Senate President Profile|url=http://www.senatepresident.com/profile.html|publisher=Senate President|access-date=7 May 2012}} He is an Idoma by tribe and is married to at least 4 wives.{{cite web|title=Scam ATM Card Payment Money Transfers Example - David Mark|url=http://www.consumerfraudreporting.org/ATMcardScam_SWIFTCARD.php|publisher=Consumer Fraud Reporting}}
Mark has a country house with a helicopter and helipad.{{Cite web |url=http://abujamedia.com.ng/david-marks-house-in-benue-state-has-a-helicopter-landing-space-on-its-roof/ |title=David Mark's House in Benue State Has a Helicopter Landing Space on its Roof |access-date=2015-08-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814032431/http://abujamedia.com.ng/david-marks-house-in-benue-state-has-a-helicopter-landing-space-on-its-roof/ |archive-date=2016-08-14 |url-status=dead }}
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- {{cite news |first= Emmanuel|last=Aziken |title= N400m contract allegation: Senate declines Mark's move to step aside |url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=449&Itemid=42 |work= Vanguard Online Edition |publisher= Vanguard Media |date= 2007-10-16|access-date=2007-11-03 }}
- [http://assemblyonline.info/2009/05/nigeria-news-gender-equality-impossible-in-politics-says-david-mark/ Assemblyonline Nigeria News: Gender equality impossible in politics says David Mark. ]
- [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7261097.stm BBC News: Legal blow for Nigerian senator; A tribunal in Nigeria has annulled the election of the president of the senate, David Mark. ]
{{NigerStateGovernors}}
{{Nigeria Buhari Governors}}
{{Nigeria Babangida Governors}}
{{President Nigerian Senate}}
{{Nigerian Senators of the 4th National Assembly}}
{{Nigerian Senators of the 5th National Assembly}}
{{Nigerian Senators of the 6th National Assembly}}
{{Nigerian Senators of the 7th National Assembly}}
{{Nigerian Senators of the 8th National Assembly}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mark, David}}
Category:Presidents of the Senate (Nigeria)
Category:People from Benue State
Category:Governors of Niger State
Category:Nigerian Roman Catholics
Category:Peoples Democratic Party members of the Senate (Nigeria)
Category:Nigerian Defence Academy alumni
Category:Senators of the 4th National Assembly (Nigeria)
Category:Senators of the 5th National Assembly (Nigeria)
Category:Senators of the 6th National Assembly (Nigeria)