Senate won’t back interim government –Mark

The Senate President, David Mark, on Tuesday
laid to rest insinuations that the ruling Peoples
Democratic Party might use the National
Assembly to elongate the tenure of President
Goodluck Jonathan, through an Interim National
Government.
Mark, in his welcome speech to senators following
their resumption from the one month election
break, said the ING was alien to the 1999
Constitution and that as such, it could not work
out under the current democratic arrangement.
He therefore appealed to politicians against using
the issue to heat up the already tension-soaked
political atmosphere.
He said, “These are not ordinary times in our
nation. There is palpable tension in the land and
the comments and even the body language of the
political class further exacerbates the tension.
“As statesmen and women, we must rise to the
occasion and help reduce tension. We must
refrain from acts or statements that will aggravate
this already charged atmosphere across the
country.
“This is time for us to be true statesmen and
women; both in words and deeds. I am alarmed
that the issue of the Interim National Government
has been given undeserved prominence in our
national discourse.
“This is imprecise, sordid and strange. Interim
National Government is alien to the 1999
Constitution (as amended). Therefore, those
calling for ING are pushing for an exercise in
futility. “
Mark maintained that the Senate was committed
to the provisions of the nation’s constitution
which members swore to protect and that they
would not do anything to sabotage the democratic
process.
He also called on the Independent National
Electoral Commission to continue to prepare to
conduct a free, fair, transparent and credible
general election.
He said, “We owe it a duty to our country men
and women to give INEC all the support it needs
to conduct a free, fair, transparent and credible
election.”