By Patrick Obia
A political group in Cross River, Fusion 196, has berated the former Governor of the State – Donald Duke for his remarks against Governor Ben Ayade, saying he should be held responsible if there is a breakdown of law and order in the State.
The group asserted in a press conference held in Calabar, the State capital where their position was read by Apostle Christopher Ben.
While calling on Duke to desist from making utterances capable of heating the polity, it warned that “Ordinarily we would not be involved with Donald Duke’s sinking demeanor shown in his disdain for credibility.
“But we feel morally obligated to have this press conference to correct his untamed hatred for a performer and humanist as always portrayed by Ayade. Interestingly, the governor stood like a rock for him when the Asset Management Company of Nigeria almost rendered Duke homeless in Lagos for loans collected to the tune of 500 million Naira.
“Donald Duke seems depressed by his utterances, exuding an imminent failure syndrome, he has gone berserk and thrown caution into the winds with an untamed flippancy. However, Cross Riverians know Donald Duke is not being altruistic as a former governor in his vituperations. As a failed national politician, he is playing egocentric politics, if not why has he seen Sen. Ayade in a bad light just at this moment when he earlier eulogized his industry and innovation?”
They averred that the former governor’s remark was borne out of hatred for the Back-to-South clamor.
“Liyel who succeeded him emphasized this, one who plunged the State into an unbearable debt burden with his ego-tripping projects. Donald is playing a script by his sponsors to incite violence in the State that may lead to a breakdown of law and order to paint a picture of insecurity in our dear State.
“As a group that is representative of a vast majority of politically active young people working with other youth groups and men of good conscience to engender democracy, we would do everything within our power to resist this assault on our psyche.”
Concluding, they urged Mr. Duke to forthwith desist from his puerile acts of ridiculing the esteemed office of the governor while pledging support to APC gubernatorial candidate – Prince Bassey Otu.