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Tag: donald duke

  • It’s failure to buy new Jet when Nigerians are hungry- Duke tells Tinubu

    It’s failure to buy new Jet when Nigerians are hungry- Duke tells Tinubu

    Former Governor of Cross River, Donald Duke, says it is a failure of leadership for President Bola Tinubu to buy a new presidential jet and yacht when Nigerians are going through perhaps the worst economic crisis the country has faced since its independence.

    He was a guest on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television on Friday.

    “There is no glamour in saying your people are going through hard times. It’s a failure of your leadership. If I’m the head of a family, I want my family to have everything. I don’t want life to be difficult for them.

    “If life is difficult then I feel I’ve failed to provide for them or do the things I ought to have done. I’d ask him (Tinubu) to see the Nigerian nation as his family. What is good for his family is good for the nation,” the former governor said.

    “Buying a new aircraft or yacht or living large is a failure. You can’t have kids who are hungry and you are living lavishly, going to parties and wearing the biggest agbada.”

    Duke, the governor of the South-South state between 1999 and 2007, said the recent #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests by hungry Nigerians showed that the President has not been a good father to Nigerians.

    “A protest is like your kids coming to tell you that ‘Daddy, I am not happy with you. You have failed to do this and do that for me’.

    “I’d ask him (Tinubu) to rethink a number of things that are going on and test his policies. The policy of floating the currency was a mistake because it wasn’t thought through.

    “The largest pressure on the Nigerian currency is the importation of fuel, and the way it is being done, it is fuelled by corruption. So, we are paying the price for it.”

     

  • Darkness reigns as poor lighting mars Calabar Carnival

    Darkness reigns as poor lighting mars Calabar Carnival

    Fun seekers who trooped out in their thousands to witness this year’s Calabar carnival have bemoaned the inability of the government to light up the city, especially the possession routes of the carnival.

    Some of the fun seekers spoke in separate interviews in Calabar on Wednesday at day six of the annual carnival.

    The respondents noted that the non-functional street lights on the routes robbed the carnival which started on a high note during the day of the shine it deserved.

    The 12km routes from Eleven Eleven Roundabout on the highway to Effio-Ette junction along Marian Road and down to the endpoint at the stadium.

    They noted that the government should have done better by ensuring the functionality of the street lights long before the carnival period.

    A respondent, Mr Pascal Bajie, an entrepreneur based in Calabar regretted that the 2022 edition of the carnival which last took place in 2019 lacked the usual glamour.

    He pointed out that before now the street lights that had only functioned occasionally for years, should have been fixed for the purpose of the carnival.

    According to him, I am actually disappointed in the government who are the organisers of the carnival, this amounts to a waste of time.

    “There is no fun because we can’t even record the procession this night because of non-functional street lights.”

    Similarly, Theresa Ogwu, who resides in Calabar said many of the fun seekers who came from outside the state would be greatly disappointed with this outcome.

    “The night activity was expected to be highly entertaining and fun to watch should there have been functional street lights.

    “You can see how poor the illumination is on the carnival routes. It wasn’t like this in previous editions and the government ought to know better.

    In previous editions, the street lights are usually turned on even before 6 pm but its 7:30 pm now and the lights are not on,” she told NAN.

    On his part, Mr Andy Akin, a visitor to the town, who also bemoaned the absence of street lights, said an international event like this that saw participants from no fewer than 14 countries should have better be organised.

    It would be recalled that the annual carnival which started during the administration of Donald Duke, has not been held for the past two years.

    The carnival was suspended in 2022 due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic while no reason was given for the carnival not holding in 2021.

    Efforts were still being made to put some facilities in place for the 2022 edition of the carnival which was hurriedly put up.

    The 2022 edition of the carnival on Tuesday suffered a tragic event when eight persons died and 29 were injured when a vehicle lost control and rammed into a crowd of onlookers during the day fifth day of the carnival.

  • BREAKING: Calabar carnival turns ‘bloody’; 7 dead, many injured

    BREAKING: Calabar carnival turns ‘bloody’; 7 dead, many injured

    Seven (7) persons have been confirmed dead and twenty-nine (29) others sustained various degrees of injuries in an incident that occurred during the annual Calabar Carnival on Tuesday.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Cross River State has confirmed the ‘bloody’ incident.

    The Sector Commander of the Corps, Maikano Hassan confirmed the number of casualties.

    Hassan said that the incident occurred in front of the Jumat Mosque in Bogobiri in the capital city of Cross River during the Bikers Carnival activity of the carnival.

    He listed the number of injured to include 21 male adults, three women, two male children and three female children.

    The FRSC boss said that the injured were rushed to Naval hospital and the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) for medical attention.

    He said that the remains of the dead had been deposited in the two hospitals in Calabar.

    According to him, the incident occurred when a Toyota Camry car lost control and rammed into a crowd of onlookers during the carnival.

    The incident abruptly brought the day five activity to an end, where the state governor, Prof. Ben Ayade was already seated with other dignitaries.

    It would be recalled that the annual carnival which started during the administration of Donald Duke, has not been held for the past two years.

    The carnival was suspended in 2020 due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic while no reason was given for the carnival not holding in 2021.

    Efforts were still being made to put some facilities in place for the 2022 edition of the carnival which was hurriedly put up.

    Meanwhile, Gov Ayade has condoled with families of those who lost their lives and promised to bring to book the driver of the vehicle that caused the accident.

  • I feel sorry for next Governor of Cross River – Ex-Gov Duke

    I feel sorry for next Governor of Cross River – Ex-Gov Duke

    Mr Donald Duke, a former governor of Cross River, has said that he felt sorry for the next governor of the state, revealing that such individual would be faced with an uphill task to reinvent governance in the state.

    He made the remarks at the inauguration of 1,080-member campaign council of the charter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Calabar on Saturday.

    The former governor, who had been saddled with the task of leading the campaign council, noted  that the essence of good governance had been lost in the state in the last eight years.

    According to him, “I never bargained to be governor of the state, but was driven by passion and commitment to positively change the fortune of the state, when I eventually became one.”

    He said that where he and his team envisioned the state to be by now was not where it was.”

    “I am worried about development in the state, a whole generation had been lost.

    “We know where the state ought to be by now. The plan was that we would have been governing the state without relying on federal allocation by now. The plans were all laid out.

    “Whole paradise had been lost. This is certainly not the best of time to govern Cross River State,” he said.

    Duke, however, said he was hopeful that the PDP governorship candidate, Sen. Sandy Onor, has what it takes to restore the lost glory of the state.

    He stressed that Onor’s past experiences in government had adequately prepared him for the uphill task of reinventing the state.

    “As a former Local Government Chairman, Vice Chairman and at a time Chairman of the Association of Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria (ALGON), in addition to being a former Commissioner for environment and Agriculture and now a Senator, Sandy has what it takes to right the wrongs.

    “I am glad that it is Sandy that will bring back the state that we have lost. I can stake for him because I know who he is,” he stated.

    In his remarks, the Onor said that the state had lost direction, as everything about the state had been abused and debased.

    Earlier in his address, the state party Chairman, Mr Venatius Ikem, called for the support of all party faithful irrespective of their present status.

    Ikem noted that all party members have the responsibility of selling the party’s candidates across the state.

  • Donald Duke dumps SDP, returns to PDP

    Donald Duke dumps SDP, returns to PDP

    The former governor of Cross River State Donald Duke has returned to the Peoples Democratic Party.

    The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Caretaker Committee in Cross River State, Effiok Cobham, disclosed this on Wednesday at a press briefing in Calabar.

    When asked to confirm the speculations that the former Governor had returned to the party, he said, “Yes, he has registered.”

    Duke earlier defected from PDP to the Social Democratic Party, where he contested the 2019 presidential election.

    He was a two-term governor of Cross River between 1999 and 2007.

    The former governor of Cross River State Donald Duke has returned to the Peoples Democratic Party.

  • Give me 12 hours to clear my N537m debt, Donald Duke begs court

    A former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke on Monday told a Federal High Court in Lagos that he would pay his N537, 334,360.77 debts to Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) in less than 12 hours.

    Duke, through his counsel, Mr Edoigiawerie Omoruyi, told Justice Nicholas Oweibo that he had approached AMCON with a promise to liquidate the debt before the end of yesterday, September 2.

    He prayed for an adjournment to enable him settle the case out of court.

    AMCON, on August 8 through its counsel Juliet Reeds obtained the court’s order to take interim possession of Duke’s Ikoyi home.

    The court also authorised AMCON and United Bank for Africa (UBA) to, in the interim, take possession of funds in the accounts of Duke and others in any bank.

    The judge made the order pursuant to AMCON and UBA’s August 8, 2019 ex parte application, marked, FHC/L/CS/1373/2019.

    The applicants listed Stonehedge Investment Ltd, Duke and his wife, Owanari Bob-Manuel Duke, as first to third defendants in the suit.

    When proceedings resumed yesterday at about 2pm, Omoruyi said Duke was willing to liquidate the debt before yesterday’s midnight deadline for repayment of the loan.

    AMCON’s counsel Mr Austin Erhabor of Benson Reeds Legal Practitioners, confirmed that Duke approached the corporation with a pledge to pay the debt before the expiration of midnight.

    Erhabor added: “In the spirit of trust and fairness, we will concede to an adjournment to enable us finalise the possible settlement.”

    Justice Oweibo upheld Duke’s prayer and adjourned till September 11, for a report of settlement.

    AMCON and UBA, on August 8` prayed the court for “an order of interim attachment, possession and custody of the property being No. 3, Temple Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.”

    They averred that the property was mortgaged by Duke “as collateral in securing the 1st respondent’s indebtedness to the applicants.”

    They urged the court to grant them possession of the property “pending the institution and disposal of proceedings for recovery of debt against the respondent, pursuant to Section 49 of the AMCON Act 2010 (as amended).”

    They also prayed the court for an interim Mareva injunction to take possession of funds in the accounts of Duke and others in any bank “pending the institutional and disposal of proceedings for the recovery of a debt of N537,334,360.77 made up of the principal debt and interest against the respondents pursuant to Section 50 of AMCON Act 2010.”

    The judge granted the prayers, in addition to an order restraining the respondents from “transacting, transferring, changing or howsoever dealing in any manner or interfering with the applicants’ possession” of the Ikoyi property.

  • Jerry Gana reacts to S’Court ruling affirming Donald Duke as SDP presidential candidate

    Jerry Gana reacts to S’Court ruling affirming Donald Duke as SDP presidential candidate

    Presidential aspirant under the platform of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Prof. Jerry Gana, has said he was disappointed by the Supreme Court’s judgment that declared a former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, the authentic presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party.

    While Duke emerged the candidate of the party, a lower court nullified his nomination and declared a former Minister of Information, Prof Jerry Gana, as the candidate.

    Not satisfied with the judgement, Duke approached the Court of Appeal which upturned the lower court’s judgement and declared him the candidate.

    Also not satisfied, Gana approached the Supreme Court.

    The apex court, however, on Friday upheld the appellate court’s decision and declared Duke the party’s candidate.

    The Director-General of Gana’s campaign team, Dr Ike Neliaku, in a statement on Sunday titled “Before the Curtain Draws” said the apex court was not supreme because it was infallible but only because it was the final court in the country.

    According to him, time would reveal the consequences of the judgment.

    He said members of the team would continue to uphold their collective principles for the emergence of a new and credible political order in Nigeria.

    He said although the beginning might have been tough, victory was assured.

    The statement read, “As disappointed as we may all feel, it is important to remind ourselves of the saying that the Supreme Court is not supreme because it is infallible but only because it is the final court of the land.

    “It is only time that will reveal the grave consequences and implications of that judgment.

    “We wish to most sincerely acknowledge the support, solidarity, goodwill and faithfulness demonstrated by numerous party members, friends and associates across the nation, for standing with us throughout this journey. It is deeply encouraging to find many men and women committed to the ideals of integrity in politics and governance.

    “We salute the courage and bravery of these distinguished compatriots. We will continue to invest in these virtues, insisting that, contrary to the majority opinion of today’s men, the end does not necessarily, and must not, justify the means.

    “By God’s grace, within this period, we have grown and bonded into one big and formidable political family, with structures across the country. We shall continue to march on and flourish, under the leadership of Prof Jerry Gana, CON.

    “Together, we will continue to resolutely uphold our collective principles and vision for the emergence of a new and credible political order in Nigeria. The beginning may have been tough, but with tenacity of heart and sincerity of purpose, victory is assured.

    “We are grateful to God for giving us the strength, grace and courage to have come this far. As in the proverbial saying, ‘weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning.’

    “We hope to soon convene a consultative meeting to jointly review and decide our collective future.”

  • BREAKING: Supreme Court upholds Donald Duke as SDP presidential candidate

    The Supreme Court in Abuja on Friday upheld the Court of Appeal judgment declaring Donald Duke, as the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) presidential candidate.

    The judgment was delivered by the Supreme Court presided over by Justices Ejembi Eko, Kudirat Kekere, Amiru Sanusi, Paul Galumje and Uwani Aji.

    The court also awarded N3 million in favour of Duke.

    The appellate court in January reinstated Duke as the SDP presidential flag bearer after overturning the ruling of the FCT High Court that disqualified him as the party’s flag bearer.

    During the party’s primary held on Oct. 6, 2018 Duke had polled 812 votes to defeat his rival, Prof, Jerry Gana who polled 611.

    However, Gana was dissatisfied with the result had approached an FCT High Court seeking to disqualify Duke as the party’s presidential candidate.

    An FCT High Court had on Dec.14, 2018 declared Gana the winner of the party’s presidential primary and Duke had appealed the ruling and won.

  • 2019: 36 SDP state chairmen reject Gana, insist on Duke as presidential candidate

    2019: 36 SDP state chairmen reject Gana, insist on Duke as presidential candidate

    The 36 state party chairmen of the Social Democratic Party, including that of the Federal Capital Territory have rejected the Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf-led court order which declared Prof. Jerry Gana as the presidential candidate of the party.

    An FCT High Court had on Friday declared Gana the winner of the presidential primary of the SDP conducted on October 6, over alleged violation of the party’s constitution.

    Specifically, the court ruled that SDP’s National Chairman, Chief Olu Falae, and the presidential candidate, Mr Donald Duke, are from the southern part of the country.

    Duke had won the October 6 primary with 812 votes, while Gana polled 611, but the former Minister of Information had approached the court to declare him the winner on the grounds of zoning and rotation formula contained in the party’s constitution.

    But the chairmen, in a statement jointly issued on Saturday by its Forum’s Chairman, Oke Idawene and Secretary, Abubakar Dogara, insisted that the embattled Duke remained the presidential candidate of the party for the 2019 election.

    The chairmen said the court’s ruling was an act of gross injustice, unconstitutional, null and void, adding that it will not see the light of the day.

    The statement read, “The party shall abide by the unanimous decision taken by the party’s delegates and the mandates of the 36 state chapters and the FCT when they convincingly and overwhelmingly voted for Mr. Donald Duke in the October 6, 2018, national presidential primaries of the party.

    “The mandate given to Donald Duke as the party’s presidential candidate is sacred, supreme and so remained sacrosanct as the will and ultimate decision of party members and leadership which no court can abort.”

    The Forum said it would use all available legal and judicial processes to protect its mandate and ensure that the will of the people prevailed.

    “We wish to use this medium to assure the general public, especially party members to remain calm and steadfast in their support and goodwill for the party and its presidential candidate towards the actualisation of the vision of the Party to rescue Nigeria through the 2019 General elections.

    “The SDP is working within the ambiance of the law to vacate the order of the Abuja court where Prof Gana is trying to pervert and arrest justice through his unlawful claims.

    “Against this backdrop, our legal team has filed an appeal against the order of the High Court at the Appeal Court in Abuja. Therefore, we want to appeal to all party members across the country to continue with their party activities and campaigns with utmost decorum, decency, and orderliness,” the forum explains.

     

  • 2019: Donald Duke loses as court declares Jerry Gana SDP’s presidential flag bearer

    2019: Donald Duke loses as court declares Jerry Gana SDP’s presidential flag bearer

    An FCT High Court in Maitama on Friday declared, a former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, the winner of the presidential primary election of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) conducted on Oct. 6.

    The party had declared a former Governor of Cross River, Mr Donald Duke, the winner of the election and its flag bearer for the 2019 General Elections.

    The party said that Duke polled 812 votes while Gana had 611.

    However, Gana went to court seeking that it would declare him the winner in line with the zoning and rotation formula of the party’s constitution.

    In his judgement, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf held that the regulations contained in the party’s constitution were binding on every member and must be obeyed.

    He held that the zoning and rotation formula as contained in the party’s constitution stipulated that both the chairman of the party and the flag bearer should not come from the same zone.

    “In this instance, the party’s Chairman, Chief Olu Falae, is from the South and Duke is from the South too; the law is clear; there is nothing to write in-between.

    “The law has crystallised that political parties should abide by the regulations which they have made by themselves.

    “The claimant laid sufficient evidence to have the judgment in his favour; it is a clear violation of the party’s constitution; the court cannot wave right over illegality,” he held.

    The judge, therefore, declared Gana the winner of SDP presidential primary election conducted on Oct. 6.

    He also declared Duke’s 812 votes null and void, and ordered SDP to forward Gana’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the party’s flag bearer for the 2019 presidential election.

    In addition, he ordered that Duke should stop parading himself as the party’s flag bearer for the elections.

    Gana had joined SDP, its National Chairman, Chief Olu Falae; National Secretary, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam; Chairman, SDP Presidential Screening Panel/ Deputy National Chairman, South, Prof. Tunde Adeniran; Duke and INEC as defendants in the suit.

    Gana sought a declaration that Duke was not eligible to stand as a candidate in the party’s presidential primaries held on Oct. 6, in Abuja.

    He also sought a declaration of the court that he ought to have been declared the winner of the SDP presidential primary election, having polled the highest valid votes in the said election.

    The former minister wanted an order of the court declaring him the validly elected flag bearer of the party for the 2019 General Elections.

    Gana also sought a perpetual injunction restraining Duke from parading himself as the SDP presidential candidate for the elections, among other reliefs.

    He had argued that under Article 15(3) of the SDP Constitution, the office of the national chairman of the party and the presidential candidacy shall rotate between the northern and southern parts of the country.