by Isi Esene

Senate president, David Mark, has said more work needs to be done to achieve the rapid development of Nigeria adding that prayer is not enough.

He admitted that the country has made appreciable progress since independence but the government must summon-up the political will to do what is needed to transform the nation.

Mark said this in Abuja on Tuesday at a Senate session organised to mark the country’s 52nd Independence Anniversary.

He said, “We have made some considerable achievements. For that alone, we need to show gratitude to God, pray and work.

“Not just pray alone. Praying alone will not solve the problem and we need to combine both of them.

“I think more than anything else, we just need political will to take our policies to logical conclusions whether it is at the executive level or the legislative level. Whether it is at the state or the local government level and I believe that unless we are determined to politically pursue the decisions that we’ve taken that will be of benefit to this country, we will still be where we are in another 10 to 20 years because the political will is lacking in so many areas.”

Observers see David Mark’s statement as a veiled reference to President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration of a year-long season of national prayers.

The senate president reportedly made a reference to Lagos State which he said has achieved financial independence from federal allocation advising other states to emulate its model.

Mark said, “Lagos State is generating so much revenue internally today and it’s just one of the few states.

“Other states are just folding their hands and waiting for allocation from the Federation Account. Obviously, you know that can’t take them far.”

Senator Uche Chukwumerije, who was also at the session gave a gloomy commentary of the Nigerian situation describing it as “a failed or a failing state.”