How can people like Edem Duke dare to aspire to be governor of Cross River State? Does he have no shame? Does speaking nice English amount to knowing how to lead? What happened to Duke and Duke? The fast food around state housing estate? How about the mirage?
As Minister of Tourism, he had all the opportunity to develop and implement policy framework for the Tourism sector in Nigeria. What investment particularly did he develop or implemented to boost the tourism in Cross River State? I only remember the World Tourism Organization event hosted in the Tinapa – those normal ‘talk and snap shows’ event by agencies then nothing happens till the next one.
Prior to the 2003 and 2007 Presidential elections in Nigeria, I worked with the team from International Foundation for Electoral Systems; they would have no other hotel than the Mirage to lodge. In 2011, when same team was meant to have their Elections Violence Education and Resolution methodology workshop with selected NGOs in Cross River, they opted for another hotel because the standard of mirage had fallen.
I remember in 2013, we brought some guest for the international youth week and the mirage was forced on us to accommodate them. It was a complete disaster. Driving pass it now, I simply smile and only wonder what happened to the Mirage?
That man could barely manage his investment to add vigor to the Cross River dream. If people like Asuquo Ekpenyong aspire then we can salute them but people who were spoon fed with government resources and could not even manage a sustainable investment, how do you entrust them with the management of a whole State?
Let the next governor make him Commissioner for Tourism or handover that sector to him. Perhaps he will rewrite his name on the good side of history in Cross River State if only he has learnt his lessons.
N/B. All my friends from the South and Central, I respect all of you but please stop adding me to any group or sending me messages telling me to support a candidate from the South or Central in the 2019 governorship elections in CRS. I will not support any candidate from the South or Central till we have our complete 8 years.
Ignatius Oli, a Cross Riverian is based in Bonn, Germany.
NOTE:Opinions expressed in this article are strictly attributable to the author, Ignatius Oli, and do not represent the opinion of CrossRiverWatch or any other organization the author works for/with.
Leave feedback about this