Former President of the Senate, David Mark, has described his then fellow Senator, Tunde Ogbeha, who turns 73 tomorrow, as a loyal and dependable patriot.
Both are army officers who later got elected into the Nigerian Senate after their military careers.
In a goodwill message to General Ogbeha, the former Senate president said: “Ogbeha is my brother and friend who has stood firm through thick and thin in the service to the nation over the years”.
According to Mark, “Ogbeha has over the years demonstrated loyalty, unwavering commitment to the ideals of nationhood, courage and tenacity of purpose for the good of the nation.
“In or out of public office, Ogbeha has continued to work for the peace and unity of the nation.
“He is a good Nigerian who works for the sanctity of our unity. He believes that Nigeria can achieve the El Dorado if every one imbibes the spirit of good neighborliness and where every citizen carries out his or her legitimate business in any part of the country without fear of intimidation or molestation”.
Senators Mark and Ogbeha developed a strong bond of friendship and brotherhood as toddlers in the Nigerian Military School( NMS), Zaria in the 1960s . Both were also course mates and members of the 3rd Regular Course of the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna .
They were both military governors during the military regime ( Mark in Niger state while Ogbeha was the pioneer military governor of Akwa Ibom state and later Bendel State (Now Edo and Delta states).
On the return of Democracy in 1999, Mark and Ogbeha contested and were elected Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Mark was elected Senator for Benue South while Ogbeha was elected Senator for Kogi West.
