Mark to Nigerians: Be Fair, honest, just to one another.
President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, yesterday charged leaders and Nigerians alike to work together as one people with a common destiny in an atmosphere of honesty, fairness and justice to one another. Senator Mark said during the funeral service in honour of Late Saleh Ankwa Oyihoma, father of House of Representatives' member Hon. Hassan Saleh in Otukpa, Benue State yesterday that leaders must follow the tenet of fairness, justice and equity in order to earn the respect of the led. He pointed out that as a nation yearning for development, security of lives and property as well as infrastructural facilities, every citizen must join the crusade as stakeholders in the struggle to enthrone an egalitarian society “we can all be proud of”. According to Mark, “hardwork pays just as determination to succeed but to be very candid, honesty, fairness and justice to all concerned are the keys to earn respect of Nigerians. “Once we continue to abide by these principles, road to development is assured”. Senator Mark described late Saleh Ankwa Oyihoma as a gallant soldier who served in the Nigerian Army with all his strength saying, ” the determination of the our fore fathers brought out the best in the generation of today.” Senator Mark praised the late Oyihoma for inculcating discipline in his children as well as the community especially when he served as district head after his retirement from service.. Earlier, the Benue State Governor, Rt. Hon. Gabriel Suswam said late Oyihoma was a disciplined officer and gentleman who inculcated the virtue of hard work, discipline and honesty on his immediate environment.
Also speaking former national Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and now Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Chief Audu Ogbeh said the deceased lived his entire life making the society a better place.
Earlier in his sermon Vicar of the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, Rev Fr. John Adeyi urged Nigerians to love one another saying that a people with love and care for each other would have no need for crime or violence.
Other dignitaries at the funeral and Outing service were the wife of the president of the Senate, Helen Mark, wife of Benue state governor Dooshima Yemisi Suswam, State Deputy Governor, Steve Lawani and Wife, Margaret , Kogi State Deputy Governor Yomi Awoniyi and General Chris Garuba (rtd) among others. Signed: Paul Mumeh, Chief Press Secretary to the President of the Senate