2015: We can’t survive another civil war in Nigeria –Mark warns politicians

Senate President, David Mark, yesterday warned those preaching for war ahead of the 2015 general elections to realise that no nation survives two civil wars.

He stated this in Abuja during a special plenary session to mark the end of the Second Legislative Session of the 7th Senate.

According to Mark, “Those beating the drums of war should realise that no nation can survive two civil wars in one lifetime.

“These trends must stop, and we must all remember that the nation is greater than the sum total of its parts.”

The Senator accused public office holders of dumping governance in pursuit of their personal interests ahead of the elections, which is still far away.

Mark said, “Elections are two clear years away, yet the collision of vaulting personal ambitions is over-heating the polity and distracting the onerous task of governance.

“Overheating the polity is unnecessary, diversionary, divisive, destructive, unhelpful and unpatriotic.”

Mark however, used the occasion to recall critical interventions by the Senate in terms of national crisis during the year under review.

He mentioned the Senate’s support for the war against terrorism by providing the legislative support for the declaration of a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

Mark further called on the need for the military to swiftly dispense with the operations of the emergency rule and defeat the insurgents with minimal damage.

“The military campaign against violent extremism, both at home and abroad must be quick, surgical and precise with as little collateral damage as possible. We know that the foe is faceless, unyielding, unreasonable and more often than not blinded by zealotry.”

“This, notwithstanding, we expect our fighting men and women to respect and abide by the rules of engagement,” he said.