Military rule has gone forever in Nigeria – Mark

By Henry Umoru

PRAGUE, Czech Republic-  SENATE President  David Mark, yesterday vowed that everything will be done to sustain the nation’s democracy which has come to stay, just as he stressed that military rule has gone  forever in Nigeria.

He also said that against the backdrop of efforts being made by the federal government to nip in the bud the security challenge,  terrorism will soon become history in the country.

Speaking yesterday in Prague, Czech Republic when he  led a delegation of some Senators on an official visit, senator Mark told  the  hierarchy of the Czech Republic Parliament that the visit was among others, designed to improve on the existing relationship between both countries.

Senator Mark who  met with the President of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Mr. Milan Stech and other principal senators of the parliament, however explained that  the operations against militants in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states will bring to terrorism to an end.

He also told them that against the backdrop of the important and strategic role the  Czech Republic was playing  among the European countries, the visit then became imperative as that will bring them closer in the European Union, EU and the African Union, AU.

Senator Mark said, “The operation is being handled well and sooner than later terrorism will soon become part of our history.

“We are conscious that fighting terror is difficult because of factors that dwell on human rights and collateral damage.  But the operators of emergency that has been introduced in the area will bring terrorism to its end.

“We appreciate the commendation of the International Community on the 2011 elections as free and fair, we will continue to build on our democratic Institutions and with the success recorded and democracy in place, Military rule has gone forever in Nigeria.”

The Senate President who noted that   Nigeria has played the role of ensuring stability in Africa, stressed that the country  has always been a home to all Africans expressing regrets however that the nation came under attacks from misguided extremists.

He said, “This trend became escalated by the situation in Mali, Niger, Libya and Chad but the Federal Government tried to curtail this through appeal and other carrot approaches but this did not quite succeed until the introduction of emergency rule.”

He told the Czech parliamentarians that the National Assembly will continue to create legislative instruments that will deepen democracy.

Earlier,  Mr. Stech who  sympathized with Nigerian government over the Boko Haram attacks, however promised that his country will partner with Nigeria in areas of education, economy and culture as well as problems of insecurity.

Senator Mark and his team also yesterday  had talks with the Chairwoman of the Inter parliamentary Friendship group for Sub- Saharan African Countries, Ms Dana Vahalova; Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Pariament of the Czech Republic, Ms Miroslava Nemcova; Nigeria Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Ms Catherine Uyok Okon.

The team also inspected the Exhibition hall of the Senate of the Parliament of Czech Republic , the Palace Chapel; Trcka’s Gallery; the Cave; Sala Terrenaa, among others and were accompanied by the Secretary General of the Senate Chancellery, Mr. Jiri Uklein.

Also with Senate President Mark on the Visit are Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba; Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Domingo Obende; Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy, Senator Chris Anyanwu and Chairman, Senate Committee on Inter- Parliamentary Affairs, Senator Abdulaziz Usman.

Culled: Vanguard