Donald Duke: The ‘Star Boy’ of the class of 1999–2007

The star of the Nigerian political class of 1999–2007, in which PBAT served as a class captain, was Donald Duke, the former governor of Cross River State. After serving as the finance and planning commissioner from 1992 to 1993, he was elected governor at the young age of 37 and was in office for eight years. Donald Duke, who graduated from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) with a legal degree, rose to prominence as a lawyer and a clever public administrator. Duke’s emphasis on structure, reform, and the rule of law was greatly influenced by his legal training.

Reading a widely shared article about how he allegedly willingly visited one of his assistant’s homes to express regret after reluctantly publicly disparaging him at his wife’s request demonstrated his remarkable, uncommon humility, which is a necessary trait of a successful leader. He acknowledges that he is not an expert on every problem and is willing to learn from others, as seen by his ability to apologise to his assistant for any fault. He demonstrated his mild-manneredness, particularly with his subordinates, by descending from his Olympian height as a governor to offer an apology. It’s no surprise that he accomplished many outstanding things during his tenure, more than any of the governors that came after him.

The upgrading of Obudu Mountain Resort (formerly known as Obudu Cattle Ranch) with cable cars (which are grounded due to lack of maintenance by successive regimes) and a thrilling tourism environment that showcases Nigeria’s tourism potential are the results of his emphasis on sustainable development, which is defined as economic development carried out without depleting natural resources. The resort offers a canopy walkway, natural waterfalls, picturesque mountain views, and a range of sports, including horseback riding. In addition, the resort provides a few services, such as dining options, lodging, and meeting centres.

Duke also left behind cultural promotion programmes that helped to revive the state’s local economy and enhanced the sluggish annual Calabar Carnival, dubbed “Africa’s Biggest Street Party”. The one-month action-packed carnival, which is usually regarded as a lively celebration of Nigeria’s different rich cultures and peoples’ customs, attracted many participants and visitors from both inside and beyond the country thanks to his initiatives.

One of Duke’s projects was the creation of the “Tinapa Business Resort and Free Trade Zone”, a commercial and recreational centre designed to boost the state’s economy. The resort is like a home away from home, with all the amenities of today. It consists of a few smaller stores, warehouses, an entertainment strip including a casino, a digital theatre, a kid’s video game arcade, eateries, a miniature amphitheatre, a pub and nightclub, and a movie production studio called Tinapa studio.

Bebi Airstrip and Marina Resort were two examples of Duke’s infrastructure investments that not only increased tourists but also gave locals jobs. But caveats aside, the boldness of Donald Duke’s focus on non-oil sectors like tourism, cultural stimulation and agriculture was visionary and still stands, especially at a time when most Nigerian states were heavily dependent on revenue from oil.

Even with a meagre allocation of ₦190,394,175,888.13 from May 1999 to May 2007, Duke was able to accomplish a lot more than some of his political classmates and successors despite a deliberate conspiracy by his successors to tactically abandon some of his landmark legacies to eclipse his popularity and political power in Cross River State and Nigeria at large.

Nigeria’s tourist potential might have been fully realised if someone like Donald Duke had served as Minister of Culture and Tourism in previous or current administrations. If our leader genuinely wants Nigeria to operate as they have envisioned, they should go beyond their immediate surroundings and beyond their shoulder to discover someone who has something to offer, even if that person does not share or agree with their political beliefs. One such person with anything to contribute is Donald Duke. His legacy lives on as a cultural icon. Duke’s integrity has been acknowledged throughout his political career, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has not linked him to any corruption investigations.

Rotimi S. Bello, a public commentator, peace and conflict expert, and HR advisor, writes from Canada.