Close Ranks, Stabilise Nigeria – Mark

President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has called on all Nigerians to close ranks and save the nation from imminent catastrophe even in the face of ongoing political crisis .

Speaking during a courtesy call on him by the leadership of the National Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Senator Mark responding to the request by the President of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Mohammed Abdullahi to intervene in the political turbulence after receiving the fellow of NIPR, Senator Mark noted that the current political challenge threatening the nation requires the collective contribution of all to overcome.

His words “There is no doubt that Nigeria is going through very difficult period in our history. We must acknowledge this. All of us must come on board to save this nation from collapse”

The Senate President therefore tasked the NIPR practitioners to play a leading role in fashioning out a blue print out of the political logjam.

“We are in a true democracy and we want democracy to survive in Nigeria. For it to survive, everybody must be carried along. Every Nigerian irrespective of ethnic, religious or political affiliation,” he stressed.

Senator Mark acknowledged that the nation is endowed with great potentials to navigate through the turbulent political waters, but pointed out that all that was needed was to harness the potentials for the greater good of all citizens.

Earlier, President of NIPR on behalf of the council, praised the Senate President for good leadership that had stabilised the once turbulent Senate but requested him to use his wisdom, experience and strategies to intervene in the polity being overheated and stabilise the nation once again.

According to Abdullahi, “the national politics is being over heated. We want you to use your strategies and tactics to intervene and bring back sanity in our country again. We believe in your capability to rescue the ship from wreckage”.

Abdullahi hinted that the NIPR Act No 16 of 1990, now an act of Parliament which regulates the practice of Public Relations in Nigeria would soon be reviewed to meet the modern trend in the practice globally.

Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja

Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari (right), receiving a certificate of award from Miss Juliana Masi, who returned from a course at Radio Netherlands Training Centre (RNTC), at the Ministry of Information and Communications Conference Room, yesterday.
Photo: Nwuieh Donatus Ken