Mark Backs Nat Conference Calls …Tasks Politicians On Nat Unity

Senate President David Mark says the National Assembly is not opposed to a national conference consisting Nigeria’s ethnic nationalities.
Mark made the disclosure when he welcomed senators from a seven-week recess in Abuja yesterday.
According to him, it would be unconstitutional to clothe such conference with constituent or sovereign powers.
He said the resolutions of such a national conference of ethnic nationalities, called under the auspices of the government of the federation would carry tremendous weight.
The senate president, who said that what the National Assembly was opposed to was the term “sovereign’’, stressing that resolutions of a national conference could not be ignored.
“The National Assembly, though not constitutionally bound by such resolutions, will be hard put to ignore them in the continuing task of constitution review.
Mark said a constitutional conference, whether sovereign or not, was not a ‘magic wand’ noting that the task of nation building required patience, honesty, sacrifice and massive investments in the future.
He urged the political class to resist attempts by those he described as “political jobbers’’ bent on overheating the polity for selfish interests.
“It is disheartening that the elections of 2015 are two years away, but political jobbers and sycophants have prematurely seized the political space and are being allowed to set the tone of national discourse.
“This is an unnecessary and avoidable distraction. They are only out to feather their own nests and unduly overheat the polity,’’ he said.
He appealed to all those contesting various political positions in 2015 to advise themselves and call their supporters to order.
“My prayer is to see our democracy advance to a level where those who lose elections would stoically accept the verdict of the electorate, congratulate the winners, and forge ahead.
Mark also called on security agencies to take any threat bordering on treason serious and thoroughly investigate such with a view to taking appropriate measures irrespective of who the culprits were.
Other crucial issues, he added, include review of the Electoral Act, and harmonisation of the Senate and House positions on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution.
Meanwhile,  Senate President, David Mark yesterday said the National Assembly has no intention of declaring any member’s seat vacant on account of the ongoing crisis in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Mark, stated this in Abuja when Alhaji  Abubakar Baraje -led PDP faction’s delegation visited him.
The Senate President told his visitors “Even, if you have a knife on my head, I will stand for justice, fairness and equity”.
He urged them to come together and uphold a strong and united party.
He said he would remain in the PDP and would not live to see a fallen party just as he pleaded with the party faithfuls not to abandon the ship.
He advised them to be honest, objective and upright in making their grievances known to the leaders of the party.
He demanded, among other things, the recall of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State from suspension and his recognition as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).
Baraje said, “we also demanded the reversal of the dissolution of the party executives in Rivers and Adamawa States.”

Chairman, Rivers State Civil Service Commission, Sir Ngo Martyns-Yellowe (left), with his Bayelsa State counterpart, Elder Bob Ozoka , during a courtesy visit of Ozoka to Rivers State , yesterday. Photo; Chris Monyanaga