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By Cosmas Omegoh
Former Secretary to Benue State Government, Prof. David Onu Salifu, has defended former vice president, Atiku Abubakar and former Senate president, David Mark, describing them as rare breeds in Nigeria’s politics.
Salifu from the Department of Public Administration at the Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State, affirmed that the contributions of the duo to national development were immense, thus the avalanche of bashing they had been receiving in recent times. Atiku Abubakar, he said, has endured more abuse, ridicule and betrayal than any other Nigerian politician since independence, yet he remained unbroken. “This should not be so as his silence is not weakness but wisdom; his forgiveness is not naivety but strength.
“In a political culture where bitterness, insults, and vengeance dominate, Atiku stands out for choosing dignity over noise, unity over grudges, and resilience over surrender. That is why, despite the storms, he remains relevant and towering in Nigeria’s political space. “History will remember not the lies told against him, but the composure, forgiveness, and strength with which he bore them. Truly, silence and forgiveness are his greatest weapons, and they are what make him a statesman, not just a politician.” As for David Mark, Salifu noted that his likes rare to find.
“Why is David Mark always the target of insults and slander by even people of low disposition, if I may ask?
“Is he the only Idoma man who has ever held public office? This obsession with tearing David Mark down is nothing but envy dressed up as criticism. Let’s be honest, how many Idoma sons and daughters have risen to his level in Nigeria’s political history? None! He carried the Idoma name into the Senate for 20 years, became Senate President for two terms, and stood at the very center of national politics. That is not a small feat, yet instead of pride, some among us especially of our Idoma stock choose bitterness.
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“The truth is this: those who constantly lampoon David Mark are not doing so in the name of accountability, they are doing so out of small-mindedness.”
Where were their voices when other Idoma office holders squandered opportunities without a trace of impact? Why is it always David Mark, and David Mark everyday?
“David Mark’s record may not be flawless, but he earned his place in history, and no amount of cheap talk can erase that.
“Until Nigerians, especially Idoma people and indeed all Benue people learn to stop this destructive habit of envy and internal sabotage, we will continue to remain politically weak and divided.”
He maintained that “instead of lampooning David Mark, we should always rally around him.
“We should be asking ourselves: who among us is ready to match or surpass his legacy? Because tearing him down won’t build up another leader; it will only keep Idoma land in the shadows.”
