Only A Military Man Should Be President, Says David Mark

As politicians jostle for the nation’s most powerful position, a senator on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, Gen. David Mark, has declared that the best person for the job should be someone with a military background.

Mark said in an interview with our correspondents in Abuja during the week that anyone lacking this qualification should not be allowed to be the nation’s president.

Citing United States as an example, Mark who is the chairman of Senate Committee on Police Affairs, said the world’s leading democracy, which he described as “the mother of all democracies,” had been ruled by presidents who served in the military.

In his contention, the possession of a military background ensures that the candidate is well groomed and adequately prepared to assume the position.

“Do you know the history of America, the mother of all democracies? Who among the presidents did not wear uniform? Go and look at the percentage. Do you know one of the things that would have worked against Clinton was that he did not wear uniform? If I have my way, I will say whoever does not have a military background should not be made president,” he said.

Asked why, he retorted, “You civilians don’t have the requisite training.”

When Saturday Punch pointed out to him that the US had never been ruled by serving military men, Mark said there was no difference.

He said it was wrong for retired military officers to be disqualified from public office by virtue of their background, noting that nothing placed civilians at a better advantage than military men in politics.

He said, “So, what’s the difference? I am a professional soldier and that is my choice. But because of that, you think you should disenfranchise me? That is wrong,” he stated.

He also stated that journalists should be made to undergo military training because that would imbue them with confidence in every area.

“It gives you the confidence that you need and makes you to be everything. Today, I know about my car more than my driver does. I can do more repairs on it and so on. That is one of the things we were trained on in the military. We are well trained more than other people. I can tell you that a staff sergeant in the army is better than a university graduate in this country. That is the truth.

“If you give me a graduate and a staff sergeant, I will pick the sergeant because I can train the sergeant.

“Yes, because military training is the best. That training gives you boldness. You people think we are just zombies.

No. Your commander gives you reasons for giving you an instruction. Go to the War College, you will see civilians there. They go to Staff College. It is because of the training.”

Mark was one of the senators who supported the constitution amendment bill, which was recently thrown out by the National Assembly. He was a member of the Mantu-led committee that recommended third term for President Olusegun Obasanjo. During the reign of the self-styled president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, he was one of the few officers alleged to have played a prominent role in the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, believed by many to be the freest and fairest election in the nation’s political history.

Source: http://www.punchng.com/main/article01

Hahahaha.

The guy's a slowpoke.

There are a lot of good things we can take from the American example; her recent choice of Presidents isn't one of them.

That statement further confirms the observation of Reuben Abati and Nigerians about the calibre of people in the Nigerian senate--ill-minded, savvy-deficient rascals parading as politicians. Thats a dumb statement to make, one not to deserve a drop of respect nor find dignity in any quarter. People like this aren't suppose to be in our legislative parlance, they deserve somewhere else like a desert or forest so they can shout all the nonsense the mouth can utter.
The military isn't done with Nigeria yet, the want to see it in her knees first, may God help us!

The issue of having a military training is not a bad idea. Our NYSC groups undergo military training in their various camps so I do not think that is the point.

Military personals are supposed to be discipline members of our society because that is what is obtained else where in the world and they are duty bind to be.

But in this country people hide under the uniform and carry out all sorts of evil and they do not respect the law of the land. Have we forgotten the Oputa panel or disrespect to court invitation of our military men both severing and retired.

Can somebody tell David that Switzerland that is one of the oldest democratic country of the world has never ever had a military person in the helms of leadership and the country is peaceful and rich so he can tell the wind about his military theory. We are no long carry way by the “love” for the country; they (military men) must play by the rules of engagement and total obedience to the constitution of Nigeria

Till we wake up as a people to understanding and respecting the rule of law, playing by the regulation of leadership institution and putting the people first not the individual we surely do have along way to go.   

Remember David Mark once said that telephones are not meant for everybody.

But Thank God, he is still alive and witness the coming of GSM.
Everybody is now using telephone.

Senator David's remarks just tell alot about the mind set of most of our rulers in Nigeria.

The US has fought so many wars than any other country in modern history and whenever they are fighting wars, its people tend to be united in fighting the common enemy.  Because of this unity that envelopes the country during war time, the commander of the war is usually looked upon as a rallying figure and one that is well loved by the people (This school of thought is subject to debate with the Vietnam and Iraq wars). Because of their war accomplishments, the people see the war commanders as strategists, and tested leaders of men that could be trusted with power and leadership of the country.  At election time, especially during presidential elections, the country is highly polarized and a party that could present a candidate that command the trust and respect of the people usually win elections.  That is why the parties usually shop for war veterans as their arrow head during presidential election year. Examples of former US presidents with experience in battlefront before ascendancy to the presidency - George Washington, Andrew Jackson, William Harrison, Ulysses S. Grant, Dwight D. Eisenhower etc.
This is not the case with Nigeria.  In the US, the army is subordinate to civil authority. By contrast, the Nigerian Army has ruled for the better part of post-independence Nigeria, sacking the elected respresentative of the people and looting the resources of the nation on an unprecedented scale.  Because of the large-scale looting of resources, the retired army men have a vast amount of money to deploy during elections to swing the result of ballot boxes in their favor. On a well conducted election that is free and fair, nobody will vote the military into office because with the benefit of hindsight, we know the stuff they are made of and what they are capable of doing.
Therefore to say that only a military man should be president is the height of hypocrisy and intellectual dishonesty.  It is a fraudulent manipulation and application of history of a well established democracy to deceive the citizens of another country.

He is a military man himself. it's obvious why he's making such a statement. if i was running for president, I would want to believe that "only a forum administrator should be president" too!

David Mark is talking nonsense. Nigeria has been held hostage by ex-military leaders. We must remove the bondage in 2007. Nigeria needs a clear visioned civilian leader. ---Chief Gani Fawehinmi

I must remember to send a letter to our parliment saying that our decmocracy is a failure because almost none of our leaders have a military background.

I mean it's a bit of a bias information source when a general comes along and says only a military man should be president.

Larufa:

David Mark is talking nonsense. Nigeria has been held hostage by ex-military leaders. We must remove the bondage in 2007. Nigeria needs a clear visioned civilian leader. ---Chief[b] Gani Fawehinmi[/b]

May his soul R.I.P

Tell him to STFU, all they have ever done is loot the treasury.