‘I’ll never insult him’ — Abba Moro denies attacking David Mark over PDP exit

Abba Moro, senator representing Benue south and senate minority leader, says he has never attacked David Mark, former senate president, over his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Mark resigned from the PDP on June 27 and is now the national chairman of the ADC.

Moro was reacting to allegations by Adakole Elijah, a political commentator, who claimed he instigated youths to launch verbal attacks on Mark after the latter left the PDP.

In a series of online posts, Elijah alleged that “a certain indigenous potentate has clandestinely enlisted a coterie of youths from a particular quadrant of the Benue South Senatorial District to unleash a torrent of vitriolic invective upon our revered icon, Senator David Mark”.

He also said “Senator Abba Moro has been at the forefront of these attacks, averring that the decision to decamp was predicated on grievances and frustrated expectations”.

But in a statement issued on Wednesday, Moro described the claims as “laughable, very unfortunate, and uncharitable”.

He said Elijah, who once served as his campaign director-general, knows the long-standing and respectful relationship he maintains with Mark.

“For the records, I have never spoken a word against Senator David Mark — not before and not since his defection from the PDP,” Moro said.

“In fact, I have consistently hushed supporters from making disparaging remarks about the political development in Benue South and insisted that the right of association being expressed by the defectors must be respected.”

He said he would never speak from both sides of the mouth by praising Mark’s records while impugning him.

“As a principled public servant, I can never and will never insult Senator David Mark. What I saw in him yesterday is what I see in him today,” he said.

“I was not brought up in the tradition of insulting elders. I hold Senator David Mark in very high esteem and will always accord him the respect he deserves.”

Moro said he has no reason to instigate attacks on Mark or anyone else, adding that he does not use media “attack dogs” to push his political agenda.

“I don’t keep social media urchins, and I don’t need them to remain relevant in Benue South politics,” he said.

He urged Elijah and his “co-travellers” to use their platforms to unite rather than divide political leaders.

“Benue South is better off as a united people, and not even political platforms should make anyone demonise another,” he said.

Moro also urged the public to scrutinise information posted online before accepting same as fact.