22 May 2020
The Speaker of the 9th Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams, Thursday signed the condolence register in honour of Prince Otu Otu Duke who until his death was the Special Assistant to the Governor of Cross River on Waste Management.
The Speaker who appended his signature on the condolence register opened at the Egerton, Calabar residence of the deceased did so in commiseration with Chief Orok Otu Duke, younger sibling to the deceased and former Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly in company with other ranking members of the 9th Assembly, namely, Deputy Speaker Joseph Bassey, Rt. Hon. Okon Ephraim of Calabar South State Constituencies, and Rt. Hon. Dr. Ekpo Ekpo of Bakassi State Constituency.
Williams observed that he was there to condole with the bereaved family because the late Duke, apart from being a proactive party man was a jolly good fellow. While noting that he was sad at the loss, the speaker said that: 'We just need to accept what God has done though we feel very sad. Prince Otu Duke was a good man and a jolly good fellow. We use to call him one million man because of proactiveness and his many abilities. He was a party man, and as one of us and in time like this we must condole with his family'.
The Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Bassey described the passing of late Prince Duke as 'sad and tragic'. On his part, Rt. Hon. Ephraim who represents the late Duke at the state legislature said Duke left enduring legacies by the life he led. While Rt. Hon. Dr. Ekpo said Duke's passing was unfortunate.
Otu Duke who was the pioneer vice chair of the Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, in Cross River state died on 3rd April 2020 due to complications after undergoing hernia surgery. He left behind a wife, two kids: 13 years old daughter and a 6 years old son, and a host of others to mourn his demise.
The mourning house in honour of the late Duke was officially opened this week's Monday at his Egerton street residence. He will be interred today in Calabar.
