Our Destiny In Our Hands –Mark

President of the Senate, Senator David Mark says, although
Nigeria is currently passing through some economic and socio – political
challenges , only the resolve and willingness of Nigerians to confront the
issues headlong would get the nation out of the woods.

In his message to mark this year’s independence anniversary,
Senator Mark maintained that Nigerians have the capacity to solve their
problems

Recalling the myriad of challenges the nation had
encountered in its project of nation building since independence, Mark said, “
if we look inwards and do the right things in conformity with our laws and
customs, we can adequately find solutions to our problems.”

His words “God has blessed the nation with enough human and
material resources, we have all it takes to truly attain our giant status
economically and politically. All we need do is to harness our resources and
potentials for good

“Nobody is coming from the moon or the space to solve our
problems for us. The challenge is that we must put behind us such mundane
issues as ethnic or religious differences and come together as one people to
tackle our problems”.

Mark noted with pains the unabating destruction of lives and
property largely perpetrated by the Boko Haram sect, ethnic militias and
kidnappers, saying “ these were hitherto alien to us. It is a challenge we must
resolve to end. “We need each other. I am very convinced that with the
cooperation of all, we can end the menace and make our country a better place.

He promised that the National Assembly will cooperate with
the executive arm of government by laying an effective and result – oriented
legislative frame work for service delivery to the people but would not
compromise its oversight functions in the spirit of checks and balances.

Mark also pledged a responsible legislature that is
accountable to the people at all times but requested that the citizens
themselves should show understanding and engage more on constructive criticisms
rather than attempts to pull the government down.

Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja