Nigeria Content Online

The intrigue
surrounding the relationship between Cross River State governor, Liyel
Imoke, and his predecessor, Donald Duke, deepened by another layer
early this week when the two men showed up together Monday evening at
the birthday bash of the state chairman of the PDP, Ekpo Okon.

Messrs Imoke and
Duke sat together at the foyer of the Calabar Cultural Centre and were
seen giggling from ear to ear occasionally, to the consternation of
other guests. The friendly disposition seemingly put paid to early
speculations of bad blood between the two men.

The much-trumpeted
break up of their political alliance is evident in Mr. Duke’s recent
defection from the PDP and his alleged behind-the-scene efforts to
torpedo the PDP-led state government.

Last weekend’s
attempt by the police to stop the inauguration of the Calabar Women and
Children Hospital [CWCH] built by Duke’s wife, Onari, following a court
order granted by a High Court in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the
state, was seen as another instance of this disagreement. Mr. Duke went
away with the police to explain that the court was issued by another
judicial division and therefore, not enforceable.

The policemen sent
to enforce the court order took him away to the state police
headquarter to explain things to their superior officers. Mr. Duke
explained that the hospital, situated within the premises of the
defunct National Republican Convention [NRC] office in Calabar, was
built with donor funds and that the NRC building was duly leased by his
wife for 25 years.

The chief press
secretary to Mr. Imoke, Patrick Ugbe, in a rejoinder to media reports
linking the state government to the police action, said Mr. Ebri, who
got the order, is a private person not sponsored by the state
government, and advised that government should be left out of the
matter.

But in a statement
emailed to some journalists in Calabar through his media aide, Mr. Duke
blamed his present travails on the state government of which, he said,
wanted to obliterate his achievements and blight his political
relevance.

“It would be
recalled that Governor Imoke recently cancelled the conferment of an
honorary doctorate degree by the state university [CRUTECH] on his
predecessor, Donald Duke, further deepening the already frosty
relationship between them,” the statement said, in parts.

“The cancellation
has been perceived as a product of envy and pettiness and has since
sent tongues wagging within the political circles and fuelling
speculations of a possible show down between the duo and their
supporters in the near future,” the statement read.

Political threat

“But those familiar
with the development point at the political undercurrents which
underline Imoke’s pronouncement. The current administration in the
state sees Duke as a formidable political threat whose legacies stand
him on a formidable stead, around whom the opposition can rally against
Imoke’s second term bid.

“It was gathered
that Duke’s recent resignation from the PDP took the party by surprise
and drew the angst of its hierarchy, which quickly responded with a
damning condemnation of their erstwhile leader, describing him as an
ingrate.

“The calculations
within the state are that if the state government should allow Duke to
be honoured with a degree by CRUTECH in the state, it would further
bolster his popularity and portray the state government as unpopular
and weak.

“In addition, the
state government is believed to be afraid that Duke may provide an
alternative platform for the gathering mass of dissenters and
especially majority of the members of the State House of Asssembly, who
are peeved by the rudderless direction and lack of inclusiveness by the
Imoke administration…

“But regardless of
this apparent hounding by the current administration, Duke wishes it
nothing less than goodwill because their progress and success would
translate to the people of the state and the country in general,” the
statement read.

Last Saturday, the
former governor told some journalists in his house that he was yet to
pitch tent with any political party, and denied reports linking him
with the Labour Party [LP].

He promised to
contest the 2011 presidential election, but added that he was taking
his time to know which party to align with, as he was being courted by
several political parties across the country.