The immediate past Senate President, David Mark is said to have shed off no fewer than 120 personal assistants and domestic workers, including his son and younger brother, following his loosing hold of power he wielded as Senate President.
Mark’s son, Babatunde Mark was his Special Assistant on Special Duties and Interior while his brother, Igoche Mark was his Personal Assistant (PA).
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under which platform he was elected, is now in minority whereas the former major opposition, All Progressives Congress (APC) controls the majority and therefore, the Presidency of the red chamber.
Information reaching Greenbarge Reporters showed that David Mark decided to dispose of the excess staff as a way of cutting costs of running his new, lowly office..
Mark led the Senate for eight years, a feat no legislator has achieved in the history of Nigeria.He was believed to have maintained as much as over 300 personal assistants and domestic workers.
However, things fell apart after PDP was booted out of power and the mantle of leadership was taken away from the retired soldier to Bukola Saraki; hence his decision to cut cost by disengaging some of his workers.
An insider hinted that some of his domestic workers were even been owed for several months before they were sacked.
“What is the essence of keeping them when he is no longer in power? What will an ordinary floor member of the Senate be doing with over 200 workers? The money is no longer coming so he had to cut his coat according to his cloth.
“To tell you how serious it is, his son, Tunde was also affected and his brother, Igoche as well. However, Igoche is still working closely with him”, he hinted.
Asked why he sacked his own son, the source said: “His son, Tunde is not an illiterate. He studied Biochemistry and immunology from the prestigious Kings College, London. He needs to start his own life since his father is no longer in power. He has since flown out of the country following his disengagement”.
“Sometimes in the past, hotels in Otukpo would be fully booked because of some persons who came from far and wide to meet with him. Now even hotel owners are complaining of low patronage,” the insider claimed.
Asked if the yearly Mark ‘D Ball basket ball competition will still hold, the insider said, “Igoche is the one in charge of that. But considering the expenses involved, I am not sure the event would hold this year.”
Mark, a former governor of Niger State under General Ibrahim Babangida and one time Minister for Communication was a pioneer member of the Peoples Democratic Party.
He has been in the senate since 1999 and had affirmed that he would not leave the party despite its defeat in the last general election. [myad]
