Nyok|23 July 2018
Former minister of Culture and Tourism, High Chief Edem Duke, has indicated interest to vie for the Office of Executive Governor of Cross River State NegroidHaven can report authoritatively.
Duke declared his intention officially at Holy Ghost Catholic Primary School at his Edem Odo Ward in Akpabuyo local government area.
While addressing pressmen at the scene of the official declaration, Duke argued that, it is high time the state be restored to the previous status quo of becoming the jewel in the crown of Africa's most populous country. He harped on his anticipated resort to tourism as an instrument to this restoration, if given the mandate to pilot the state as governor come 2019. He said that he would initiate and sustain security, peace, health and wealth in the state.
His words, 'the most important thing is that it is important to restore the bonding and the unity and harmony that used to be the hallmark of the Cross River State. The agenda for me as an aspirant to the office of the governor of Cross River State come 2019 is the restoration of what the world used to know as the paradise of Nigeria, it is the restoration of what used to be the jewel in the crown of Nigeria. It is to restore all our natural asset —what God has endowed us with, our tourism sites, our nature endowments.
'When you talk about the Cross River State, the first thing that resonate in your mind is the beauty and the blessing of God, that nature has endowed us with, it's our hills, our riverside, it's our vegetation, it's our people, it's our history, it's our culture, it's our heritage, it's the love that binds us together, it's the critical dynamism of our youths —youths who commits themselves day and night in the search for livelihood in other to put bread and butter on the table for their families.
'It is our elders, who often times in the political calculation of political parties are never given attention, our traditional rulers whom we have cried overtime that the Constitution must recognise, particularly in some of the very critical issues of security, so that we can restore the confidence of investors in our state,
'As a foremost business leader in the Cross River State, I have been a participant and a pioneer in orchestrating what use to be the Cross River Tourism that the world spoke about, I have always been in the forefront of utilising my own resources at no cost to government to attract investors to the Cross River State, and in the document I presented today, you will see page by page the commitment I have to Cross River State.
'There is so much to do in this state. But, I, High Chief Edem Duke, do have a wand —not a magical wand, for you can only be a leader if you are a team player, that would build a bipartisan team across every socio-political strata. I will like to foist on the people a Cross River State a Cross River United Agenda, for the promotion of peace, security, goodwill, and good fortune… We need to restore our common health to regain our common wealth', Duke submitted.
He added that he's blind to tribe, geographical demarcation, religion, and political party. While addressing party faithfuls and the community present, he said that 'my dear brothers and sisters, let's rise to rescue Cross River State.'
Present at the occasion of declaration of interest of the pan-Cross Riverian politician, were All Progressives Congress stalwarts across the State, traditional rulers, youth groups, women groups, and children.
Nyok
Is the Blogger-in-Chief, Editor-in-Chief & Publisher of NegroidHaven
