Nigeria @ 57: Mark calls for national rebirth——-Canvasses peaceful coexistence

Former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark  has called for a renaissance spirit among Nigerians as a panacea to the current socio-economic and political  challenges.

Senator Mark acknowledged that Nigerians are passing through difficult times but urged the citizenry not  to despair but to reenact the indomitable spirit  that has seen them through various travails in the past.

In his good will message to Nigerians marking the nation’s  57th independence anniversary , he enjoined Nigerians to shun mundane issues  such as ethnicity or religious differences that tends to create disharmony.

Senator Mark stated: ” we can surmount our challenges if we  collaborate and confront them in a  more determined, focused and  honest manner.

“I believe that God kept us as one under a united country for good reasons.  We may have our differences or disagreements. But that must not surpass or outweigh the huge benefits of staying together.

” Sure, we are yet to achieve all our goals  as a nation but we have made some appreciable progress that must be sustained and improved upon.

“Whichever way it is viewed, whether region, zone or state, Islam or  Christianity ,  we all have comparative advantages of living together. We must continue to contribute towards making our dear country a better place”.

He therefore urged those agitating for a  possible break up of Nigeria to look at the positive sides of being part of the whole instead of craving for a micro entity that would ultimately rely on the bigger entity for survival.

Senator Mark is of the conviction that the grey areas  militating against Nigeria’s unity can be addressed  in a fair and honest manner without spilling the beans.

For him, both the government and the governed must take deliberate steps to present issues on the table anchored on  equity, fairness , justice and respect for one another.

He insisted that there are enough channels  for any aggrieved persons or groups to ventilate or seek redress including dialogue, courts or the National Assembly instead  of taking  to the extreme measures .

Senator Mark  wished the nation a blissful independence anniversary just as he prayed for an egalitarian  society where every citizen is free to pursue his or her legitimate ambition in any part of the country without fear of intimidation or molestation.