Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has taken a nostalgic trip down memory lane, revealing in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account that 42 years ago, as a secondary school student in Niger State, he and his classmates once lined up to welcome then-Governor David Mark, who affectionately called them the “leaders of tomorrow.”
Sani’s reflective post offered a personal glimpse into his early years and Nigeria’s political history. According to the senator, the now-retired General David Mark, who would later become Nigeria’s Senate President, served as Governor of Niger State from 1984 to 1986 under the military regime of General Muhammadu Buhari.
“42 years ago, David Mark was the Military Governor of Niger State while I was a secondary school student in the same state. We used to line up in our school uniforms to receive him. He fondly called us ‘leaders of tomorrow,’” Sani wrote following David Mark’s recent emergence as the Chairman of a new political coalition.
The remark sparked a wave of responses online, as many Nigerians reflected on the enduring phrase “leaders of tomorrow,” often used to inspire young people but frequently criticized for its irony, given the recycling of leadership in the country over decades.
David Mark, who went on to become one of Nigeria’s longest-serving senators and presided over the Senate between 2007 and 2015, remains a prominent figure in Nigeria’s political landscape. His legacy is often cited in discussions about leadership longevity and generational shifts in Nigerian politics.
Senator Sani’s post, while lighthearted, subtly underscores a recurring national conversation about youth empowerment, leadership succession, and the realities confronting the generation once hailed as Nigeria’s future leaders.
The post continues to generate engagement, serving as both a historical footnote and a commentary on Nigeria’s political journey.
Credit: @ShehuSani via x.com.
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