By Peter OSSAI with Agency Reports
Former Senate President, Senator David Mark, has asked Nigerians to rise against the increasing insecurity in parts of the country in order to stop the needless killings of Nigerians.
Mark noted that although insecurity has taken a global trend, Nigeria cannot afford to allow the challenge degenerate further to an intolerable level.
A statement by his media assistant, Paul Mumeh, said that the former Senate President spoke in Ogume, Delta State after he was awarded a Doctorate Degree on Intelligence and Security Studies (Honoris Causa) from Novena University at the institution’s convocation ceremony.
It said that the University also established a new faculty named Senator David Mark centre for Intelligence and Security studies for the study issues relating to insecurity and conflicts.
The statement quoted Mark as saying that “it is sad that hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost to conflicts and insurgency.”
The former Senate President was also quoted to have regretted that “productive men and women who should ordinarily contribute to national development have been needlessly wasted. Hence we must all rise up to say enough is enough “.
It said that Mark expressed his pleasure with the establishment of the Intelligence and Security studies faculty named after him and requested that higher premium be placed on strategic research that will provide better understanding and knowledge of the security challenges facing the nation today.
It said that Mark tasked security agencies and scholars alike to take advantage of the intelligence and security faculty of the university to focus on research, teaching and learning in order to fashion out a blue print to navigate through the myriad of security challenges.
It said that the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Chris A. Okafor who presented the certificate to the awardee, acknowledged the role Senator Mark played as the President of 6th and 7th Senate in bringing peace, stability and security to the National polity, which he described as unprecedented in the history of Nigeria.
It said that Okafor particularly extolled the wisdom with which Senator Mark piloted the affairs of the National Assembly stressing that “the David Mark Centre for Intelligence and National Security studies will work closely with the Distinguished Senator and some international partners from the Republic of China to fully train the undergraduates in personal and national security.”
The statement also stated that the event was attended by Delta state Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa, his cabinet members, former Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro; House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Air Force, Hon. Samson Okwu; Hon. Ezekiel Adaji among others.
