DAVID MARK, WHAT A GUFFAW?

The midget of Oturkpo and Nigeria's Senate president David Mark has again stirred the hornet nest of criminality in Nigeria! He unashamedly stated that Nigeria does not apology for the criminality of her citizens? In his own words, as senate president representing Nigeria to a visiting foreign government official, "I have no apology for victims of 419"?

Nigeria, David Mark said, does not apologise for her fraudulent citizens' activities; instead she "knights" them for out-smarting their foreigner-victims? According to David Mark, these so called victims are not really victims; rather they are accomplices to fraud? But we are all aware that parents sometimes apologise on behalf of their miscreant children, who may have misbehaved to some other third party? For David Mark, it is inconceivable that Nigeria should apologise on behalf of her not so good citizens? It goes to the veracity and credibility question of Nigerians; and a damage to one is a damage to all.

Icheoku says, imagine what the number three citizen of a country, desperate to re-brand, is saying? Particularly so at this time when the Dora Akunyilis' of Nigeria are sweating themselves mad to re-make Nigeria's sordid image? Little wonder David Mark was a no-show at the launching of operation re-brand Nigeria? He does not believe in it, himself being one of the looters of Nigeria, whose thievery as a one time NITEL overseer, contributed to the comatose state of Nigeria, necessitating the current re-branding effort? As we recall, NITEL was bled to death by David Mark's plundering? By logical extension, David Mark, himself is a 419 operative who perpetrated one of the biggest 419 on Nigeria's NITEL; from which the government parastatal never recovered? His 18 holes golf-course, proceeds of his loot from NITEL is there in Dublin-Ireland for the whole world to see; attesting to this man's criminal behaviour of wanton corruption and money laundering. Icheoku asks, was David Mark holding a brief on behalf of his compatriot partisan 419 practitioners, when he made that shameful statement to the Irish delegation?

And David Mark was speaking to a visiting Irish economic team, led by that country's Integration Minister, Conor Lenihan, who paid him a visit in Abuja-Nigeria. Icheoku says, the implication of David Mark's statement to that country's economic team, seeking to do business with Nigeria, is that they too can be defrauded and such is acceptable by Nigeria? Where does this David Mark expect the Conor Lenihan led team to find their confidence to proceed with whatever business objective that led them to visit Nigeria; when they could not even be assured by Nigeria's third in command that their investment in Nigeria will just be fine?

David Mark is atypical of the problem with Nigeria, - destitutional "leaders" presiding over the affairs of the nation which is the reason why Nigeria is in a perpetual stupor? Instead of re-assuring these Irish visitors that 419 is a scourge which Nigeria is trying very hard to fight, David Mark was busy suggesting that it is the fault of the victim; adding that both the fraudulent Nigerian and the defrauded foreigner, victim are both in-cohoot and equally at fault? What a logic on its head, David Mark style? Does David Mark understand the ramifications of his statement? Does this man not understand that people have been prospecting for gold since the beginning of times and the allure is so great, that many businessmen will hope to make some profit out of every situation? In other words, is David Mark saying that it is ok to appropriate a lost but found item whose owner is obviously identifiable? Did this parasitic worm that brought NITEL down, know that the crime of obtaining by false pretence is in the inducement or baiting of the unsuspecting victim; the reason why it is called victim's crime? How and why on earth, did this man try to rationalise an evil practice?

Icheoku is appalled that David Mark went down this road of irrationality! Instead of emphasising the strengths of the efforts being made by the Nigerian government to arrest the situation, through the institution of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC); he went off the cliff with the biggest guffaw of the century, eulogising Nigeria's 419 criminality? Icheoku demands that David Mark disavows the offensive, thoughtless and undiplomatic statement he made on behalf of Nigeria, to a visiting delegation from Ireland? Better still he can qualify his statement or blame his tongue for the misspeak or even let the press take the fall that he was quoted out of context? It is called damage control! But for him to do nothing to correct this representation, will only fuel what is already known or perceived of Nigerians - bunch of criminal 419 operatives! The already existing intense and negative international publicity which Nigeria gets is damaging enough and so David Mark's uncouth statement only festers the bad rap! If therefore David Mark had nothing to add, why did he open his; mouth knowing fully well that Nigeria will be judged by what comes out of her number three citizen? Simply put, it is regrettable!