Partisan time is by the corner and so politicians who want to be noticed will not hesitate to make unguided statements in order to be perceived as ‘local champions’ preparatory to the declaration of their ambitions. Most often and quite unfortunately, while I concede the natural right of every human being to nurse sentiments, the colour of sentiments played at partisan times are usually devoid of any modicum of sincerity or the genuine conviction of even the authors to serve the interest they seem to project. It is on these premises that I find the statement credited to one Chief Madaki Omadachi Ameh, titled “Mark has failed the people of Benue-South”, where energy has been dissipated in a futile attempt to cast unnecessary aspersion against the person of the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator (DR) David Mark, quite laughable, amusing and inconsequential.
Ordinarily, one would have ignored or disregarded Omadachi’s tantrums chiefly done to cajole Nigerians with the wave of the hand but for the purposes of putting the records straight, I hereby respond to all the issues raised in his tirade.
First, Omadachi stated that “Mark, after occupying the seat for the past 16years, since inception of the current political dispensation in 1999, without meaningful contribution to the Idomas, doesn’t deserve another term”. Haba! Omadachi, why are you lying in order to be noticed? Why are you approbating and reprobating at the same time? At the beginning of Omadachi’s statement, he ingloriously stated that the Senate President had done nothing and mid way, he querried why the execution of Agatu-Oweto road is moving milipediously. What a paradox? But since Omadachi appears to be ignorant of the achievements of the President of the Senate in Benue-South, I make bold to inform and educate him and his co-political travellers.
First, the very Otukpo-Agatu- Oweto road pointed out by Omadachi is Senator Mark’s brain child. The idea that River Benue could be bridged at Loko for a road to be constructed in order to facilitate easy movement from and to Abuja was initiated by him. The road which today stops at Oshigbudu ranks as one of the best in the country. At least, Omadachi is a living testimony to this because the road passes through Adoka, his ancestoral home. The road before now was like a bush path. The Ogoli and Onaji bridges on that road before now were death traps. At least, with the construction of that road as facilitated by Senator Mark, people are now plying that road with comfort. Therefore, Omadachi’s postulation that the road was being reconstructed was just a mere conjecture. If he has any problem with the project, all that is expected of him was to channel his grievances to the appropriate quarters.
Senator Mark, since assuming the political leadership of Benue State-South Senatorial District, has attracted the following projects to his people: Otobi, Multi-purpose Dam, Otukpo-Nobi Earthdam, Akpegede Dam, Otobi-Otukpo Dam, Owukpa and Otukpa earth Dams under construction, motorised bore holes at College of Education Oju, Obarike-Ito, Ogi-Utonkon, Ipolo-Ugboju and Egba-Agatu as well as over twenty bore holes at different locations in Benue –South Senatorial District.
Perhaps, Omadachi is unaware that the Senate President had constructed a multi-million naira health centres at Egba-Agatu and Akpegede- Otukpo.
In the area of youth development, Senator Mark, apart from locating a national youth centre each in Ugbokolo, Obagaji, Ohuma and Otoda-Otukpo, had equally built a block of three classrooms each in the following schools:
LGEA primary school, Ogam-Agatu, LGEA primary school, Ugbobi-Apa, lGEA primary school, Uwokwu-Oju, lGEA primary school, Ibilla-oju, LGEA primar school, Ohuma-Obi, Community secondary school, Itogo-Obi, LGEA primary school, Eke-Olengbecho, St. Edwarrd primary school, Owukpa, LGEA primary school, Akpoge-Ogblolo, LGEA primary school, Igumale, LGEA primary school, Otobi-Akpa, LGEA primary school, Agadagba-Akwunu, LGEA primary school, Ochobo I, Devine secondary school, Ochobo.
Currently, the President of the Senate is constructing a block of three class rooms each in the following schools, St.Joseph’s primary school, Otada-Otukpo, LGEA primary school, Emichi-Otukpo, LGEA primary school, Akpachi-Otukpo, Wesley primary school Utonkon, LGEA primary school, Okuntungbe, LGEA primary school, Inyuma-Oju, LGEA primary school Allan-Akpa, LGEA primary school, Ipega, Adum-Ona, Orokam, as well as Igumale community secondary school, Igumale.
It might also interest the self aclaimed “Okaleya” that the Senate President also attracted a colossal eighteen federal roads to the rural communities in Benue-South. these are: Igumale-Ulayi-Ijigban, Oshigbudu-Obagaji-Okokolo, Ugbokpo-Edikwu-Opaha, Adumeast-Ohuma-Ojou, Oju-Ebenta-Uwoku, Ukwo-Aho-Owukpa, Okpudu-Idiri-Ikomija, Ochobo-Agadagba-Onyagede, Adoka-Umogidi-Opaha, Ugbokpo-Ojantele-Ikobi, Ogoli-Ipolo, Awulema-Aigaji-Ogene-Alaglanu, Efoyo-Ikpogo-Omadewu-Eboya, Adumeast-Adiko-Okumtungbe, Otada-Emichi-Okpoumaju-Odudaje, Egwuanokwu-Aigaji-Idekpa, Oju-Ojuma-Edumoga-Ohuma roads. There are also several other electrification projects initiated by Senator David Mark in various communities of Benue-South.
Haven pointed out some of the physical development projects, it is necessary for me at this juncture to also inform Omadachi that through political brickmanship of the distinguished Senator Mark, the Otukpo-Enugu road is being given a face lift at least up to Ugbokolo. That Akpagede road has not been given a first class face lift like the Otukpo-Enugu road is a clear testimony that Senator Mark is not a selfish leader otherwise, he could have done that road at the expense of Agatu-Oweto road and Otukpo-Enugu road.
Mark is not a Senator of Akpegede alone but a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing the good people of Benue-South Senatorial District.
It is equally important to inform Omadachi and his hobnobbers that Senator Mark has developed an impressive humanitarian enterprise for the people, especially women and youth in his constituency. This can be periscoped from the establishment of cottage industries in the nine local government areas. Aside this, he also established a scholarship scheme where students from Benue-South and indeed the entire Benue state are benefiting. Over 10,000 students have benefited so far. Similarly, Senator David Mark has facilitated the recruitment of many Idoma youths into federal agencies and parastatals.
As for Omadachi’s ambition, I do not begrudge him since that is his entitlement. My happiness is that Senator Mark has become a commodity that other products have to lean on in order to be marketed. Omadachi, who is angling to go to the upper legislative chambers after a futile attempt to go to the house of representative in 2011 should first of all endeavor to comprehend the working of the parliament before venturing into it. As it is today, he is misunderstanding the legislature as an extension of the executive hence he is viewing contract awards and executing as functions of the parliament. He should also try to utilize the instrumentality of persuasive communication to showcasing himself to the electorate instead of denigrating the Senate President with monochromatic accusations.
The achievements of Senator Mark as a true representative of his people are obvious and visible. They cannot be diminished by the unfounded allegation of Omadachi
— Elijah wrote in from Makurdi, Benue State.
