Senate President, David Mark, yesterday advised the in-coming administration of President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, to make the genuine reconciliation of all Nigerians top priority.
Mark spoke at a thanksgiving Mass ahead of the end of the 7th Senate at St. Mulumba Catholic Chaplaincy, Apo in Abuja, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh.
He said the action had become imperative in order to assuage the feelings of some aggrieved persons.
He said: “What the nation needs now is genuine reconciliation of all sections of the country.”
He said despite different political affiliations on which public officers were elected, “what must be paramount is the service, welfare and security of Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic, religious or political differences.”
He further stressed the need to address the insecurity situation, especially in the North East zone ravaged by Boko Haram.
He advised public office seekers against desperation for power, saying: “There is no need to be desperate for power, since power comes from God. Once we acknowledge this, we will not be at each other’s throat.”
Mark gave credit to Almighty God for sustaining him throughout his tenure as the President of the Senate.
He said: “My 16 years in the Senate and eight years as the President of the Senate is the Lord’s doing, not by my own wisdom, power, intelligence or fame and influence.”
He specifically expressed appreciation to his colleagues in the Senate and by extension the House of Representatives for the support and cooperation which he said helped him to succeed as the President of the Senate.
He added: “It has been a unique opportunity to serve in a public office. If God has not permitted us, we could not have achieved the much we have done for the people and above all for God.”
Earlier in his homily, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, advised politicians to reduce the political tension in the country by avoiding the winner takes all syndrome.
Onaiyekan urged the in-coming administration of Buhari to take the nation as his constituency and carry everybody along in the scheme of things, adding, “Mr. President-elect should see himself as the President of Nigeria and not of the All Progressives Congress (APC).”
He further admonished the incoming administration to use its campaign mantra of change to reorientate and indeed change the attitude of Nigerians for good.
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