The quiet life of the former chief executive of Cross River State, Donald Duke, bespeaks of the nobility expected of pastpolitical leaders in the country, writes Correspondent, SAM NWOKORO
In Nigeria, the profile of former political leaders is replete with all sorts: instigation of groups for selfish political gains and jumping from one political party to another to remain relevant, even if it means sabotaging the larger interest of his constituency. Other abnormal behaviours of Nigeria’s past political leaders include not finding other vocations to occupy their time and contribute meaningfully to society after power, sowing seeds of discord among politicians, and constituting unnecessary distraction to their successors. Of course such politicians are replete in Nigeria, especially since the return to democratic rule in 1999.
Former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, is one political office-holder who set up foundation to advance the cause of humanity. His out of power engagement has been exhilarating, sending virtuous message to his colleagues.
Philosopher leader
The kind of vocation a former leader engages in after leaving office says so much about his spirit, philosophy and, in general, his world view. For instance, former United States President Jimmy Carter is a famous surgeon. His regime was characterised by numerous crises spewing out from the international scene, especially from the restive Middle East Arab and Palestine. Since he left office, Carter has concentrated on mending people’s lives all over the world through his various foundations and philanthropic works. He neither embraced politics nor romanced with the idea of a come-back. In 2002, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work with the Carter Center.
Gerald Ford is another example. His work outside power has transformed many lives in education and entrepreneurship all over the world. Same with Rockefeller, Mac Arthur and Bill Gates.
Duke has been conducting himself to public admiration since he left office as governor of Cross River in 2007.
Unobtrusive
In the chequered politics of Cross River, the former governor had managed to stay out of the controversies of partisan politicking. He is not known to have foisted any political son on the state, so as to have a steady access to the seat of power and to dictate the manner his successor should run the state. Nor is it on record that he anointed any successor. Yet while he was governor, Duke initiated many landmark projects geared towards making the state grow economically on sustainable basis. His transformative policies enchanted even the federal government under Olusegun Obasanjo who was then always at loggerheads with state governors who he randomly accused of living rascally and squandering their statutory allocations. Obasanjo even at a time considered drafting Duke into the presidential race because of the man’s outstanding policy initiatives aimed at mitigating revenue shortfalls accruing to the state after the cessation of Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon following the world court ruling.
Some of the memorable achievements for which the governor would be remembered was the development of tourism in the state to a status of revenue-earner and global reckoning. The Tinapa Resort, the Calabar Carnival, and the Obudu International Mountain Race were some memorable initiatives of Duke which his predecessors are also ensuring they sustain. The Calabar carnival attracts not less than six million visitors and generates billions of naira to the state. Duke not only advocated the development of culture and tourism as easier complement if not total substitute for oil revenue, he actually practicalised it.
His innovations and popularity reached a defining moment around 2007 that several Nigerian groups emerged in far-flung places in Europe and America praising the man’s innovation and calling on him to contest the presidential election in 2007. He aspired for president in 2007, but stepped aside for the eventual winner, the late Umaru Yar’Adua.
Duke’s visionary policies also touched on the development of the many deep seas in the state to improve regional transportation from the state to other parts of the country. Virtually all the policies his successors have been following were already scripted by his administration before he left office, and his people have been happier for the politics of Cross River which has been adjudged generally peaceful without attrition and witch-hunt.
Jazz, music of philosopher-kings
Perceptive members of the public reason that Duke’s love for Jazz is inspired by his peaceful nature. Of course, the quiet spirit which jazz music radiates only magnates the spirit of peace-loving people. Any wonder that while he ruled Cross River, the state did not have bands of militants as witnessed in other parts of Niger Delta, though the state was an oil-producing state and then had the largest reserves before the table turned.
Asked about life after serving as governor, he frankly told journalists: “Like everything in life, you go through an adjustment period where you decide what to do with your life. Thereafter, you must constantly remember that you were doing something before then and these are only phases in your life. So you make the adjustment. So I went to a music school in England to learn how to write and score music for four months. I then went to Houston in Sugarland where I did saxophone recitals. It was fun. But like anything, if you don’t practise the scoring of the music, you lose it. I did another refresher course because my children all write music.”
He wants a political culture in Nigeria where ideology is ingrained, so that Nigeria’s politics would be issue-based.
“These political parties do not have ideological backing. They are only a platform. They are not based on ideology. Let’s take the UK for example. If you take the conservatives, they have an ideology, which is right of the centre. The Labour party is left of the centre or at least centrist. There is an ideological bent. In Nigeria, there is nothing like that. Maybe in future, they will evolve. At one time, PDP boasted of being the largest party in Africa. That went overnight and people moved in droves to other parties. PDP did not change its ideology. It just ran out of favour with people. They felt they didn’t have a future remaining in the PDP.”
On April 29, 2016, the governor performed his jazz music alongside award-winning legend, Kirk Wharlum, to celebrate the International Jazz Day at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, and his mastery of the strings left the audience reflecting on the humanism and communalism embed in leadership. He is actively involved in a critical sector of the Nigerian economy, the transport sector where he is partnering with reputable international companies to bring about cable car transport system in chaotic Lagos and later other parts of the country.
Donald Duke was born on September 30, 1961 at 16 Annesley Street, Calabar, Cross River State, to the family of Mr. Henry Etim Duke and Mrs. Genevieve Etim Duke. He is the fourth in the family of five children. His father was the Chairman of the Board of Customs and Excise (now The Nigerian Customs Service) between 1967 and 1975.
He was the governor of Cross River from May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2007.
The saxophonist was born in the East, grew up in the West where he had his early education at Corona and Saint Mary’s School in Lagos. His post-primary education was in Sokoto and Ilorin. He returned to the Federal School of Arts and Science, Lagos, for his ‘A’ Levels. He received his LLB degree in 1982 at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, and a BL in 1983 from the Nigerian Law School, Lagos. He went further for his LLM in Business Law and Admiralty in 1984 at the University of Pennsylvania.
Having had sufficient exposure in academics, business and law practice in the United States, Duke returned to Nigeria and teamed up with some colleagues to establish the partnership of Onyia & Duke in Lagos. Being in active law practice, he soon assumed full management of the family’s shipping business when he became Chief Executive of Hedges International Limited.
Duke entered into public governance for the first time in 1991 when he was appointed a member of the Board of Directors of Voice of Nigeria (VON). This was quickly followed by another appointment in 1992 when Governor Clement Ebri appointed him a member of the Cross River State Executive Council and Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Planning. The appointment as Commissioner was unfortunately short-lived due to the abrupt change in government in November 1993.
He returned to private life in the course of which he became the chairman of Allied Merchants and Brokers Limited, a sole Africa Franchisee for U.S.-based Uncle Ben’s Rice.
Duke has been praised for his contributions to the fields of agriculture, urban development, governance, environment, information and communication, unit investment and tourism. Through his work, Calabar is seen today as the “cleanest city in Nigeria”.
He created the idea of Obudu Ranch International Mountain race which became one of the most lucrative mountain competitions in the world.
Duke started Tinapa Resort project to boost business and tourism in the state. Over $350 million was spent on the first phase before opening in April 2007. The BBC reported in September 2006 that Governor Duke was the only governor specifically mentioned as not being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC
