rusher14:


[b]Though the Obudu ranch was built well before his coming, he forged a workable partnership with private investors as managers. It gradually became a romantic site of visit as a result.


Water - the area of rural water supply was one in which Duke excelled. Not only did he provide handpumps to communities that suffered issues of electrification he also provided solar powered pumps in such place as the Afi Ranch in Buanchor, Northern Cross River.
It is worthy to note many a fire service station was without potable water, this he provided complete with overhead tanks and generators in most cases within his state.

Wildlife conservation - Prior to his governing of the state, most apes were hunted with reckless abandon. Hid government ensured edicts were made and it is now illegal to be found with the remains of Pandrilus monkeys and Gorillas which were a common feature in the past.

Culture and tourism - we all know about the annual carnival in Calabar which he's been a great ambassador of. It has provided the platform for many artistes to mingle with their fans, it fosters peace in the community whilst putting Calabar on the bucket list of revelers during the yuletide season.

Rural electrification - many communities were without connection to the national grid - no poles, no cables, no transformers. I can recall travelling from Ogoja to Calabar having been away for a little while only to be greatly surprised by a community on the Highway just before Ikom which had previously been anonymous to me, being sufficiently lit to encourage a new night life brimming with activity.

He established Crutech made up of well spreadout campuses along the length and breadth of the state, ensuring that other parts of Cross River benefited from the commerce, warmth and educational upliftment associated with such institutions.

Agriculture - I'm aware of a castor seed project which he championed for his state. The present status of the castor seed project is not known to me.

He was charismatic, forward thinking and certainly a visionary.

He works with a level of sophistication which the country desperately needs.

Can he be elected? Not likely - except he makes the ticket as the vice, by so doing, putting his name in the consciousness of the electorate. [/b]

989900:


Akuyili is the best by a long mile. We all miss her.
Life is cruel: Akuyili is late, but Diezani is alive.

Akuyili's patriotism and intelligence is unrivaled -- if alive, I would have voted for her ahead of any of my other favourites. In my view, she is a younger, female, more detribalised, refined, PhD version of PMB (they are both patriots and less corruptible by far).

About Donald, I don't think he is weak ( OBJ actually passed over him for the IB cause he knew Duke was no pushover). That said, I think any Lagos state governor, even Marwa is a better fit than Donald ( no love lost for the Duke though -- he is still one of my favourites).

ProjectNaija:


Nice write up but the list of Donald's duke achievements go way beyond this. I will start a new thread on the "Donald Duke Legacy". His numerous achievements in cross rivers state will be well articulated there.

ProjectNaija:
As it stands today, Donald Duke is probably the best presidential material we have in this country as he stands heads and shoulders above his peers and contemporaries in terms of experience, performance, intellect, track record and orientation. I will not only vote for him but use my resources to campaign massively for him.

ProjectNaija:


Nice write up but the list of Donald's duke achievements go way beyond this. I will start a new thread on the "Donald Duke Legacy". His numerous achievements in cross rivers state will be well articulated there.

NeeKlaus:
As long as he picks Peter Obi as his running mate, then it's all good. Let's see if Obi's purported frugality can move this country forward.

Lakeside79:


Does this include tinubu ?

I hope your view isn't biased ?

Lakeside79:


Beautiful

Can you see this ? slimfit1

Lakeside79:


But pls add it here I totally agree with you, I strongly feel Donald duke is so underrated by Nigerians and i just don't know why

Is it because he isn't considered one of the major tribes ?
I am Yoruba but this really annoys me the way people easily ignore this brilliant mind

Please add it here so all can see the milestones this humble gentle man achieved without undue noise

I read a post where someone said all Lagos past governor's are better than him

Such things annoy me

slimfit1:


A local government chairman can do all this man

slimfit1:


We need a leader that can fight our challenges he can't too sweet. He would want to please everyone like Jonathan. We need someone fresh not him. Fashola as low as I rate him is far more better than him.

slimfit1:


A local government chairman can do all this man

nengibo:

President & vp from the south?

mank1234:
If I ask what that problem is, I'm sure your answer will be corruption. Corruption wasn't a problem in Cross River because he understood that economic emancipation, religious and ethnic tolerance and education heals a society of corruption.

What you're canvassing for is someone who will jail corrupt politicians. That is backward thinking. Will that stop others from looting? Does capital punishment deter robbers? Fighting corruption is costly and the success of it is unpredictable.

What we need is a forward thinking president. A president who will block loopholes in our processes. One who will make Nigeria a destination for tourism, technology and development. Before 1999, calabar wasn't such a destination.

Again, if you know him well you'll know that he's not a man-pleaser. He just minds his business.

989900:
One of my favourites.

My favourites (not in any particular order):

Fashola
Peter Obi
Osinbajo
Donald Duke
Tinubu
Ambode
Obiano
Kachikwu
Sheu Sani
Amosun
Ali (customs)

P.S. The above might not necessarily be election winners, but they are proven performers, some known for their frankness and frugality.
I kinda believe though that for the country to move forward in terms of nationwide development you need someone who has handled the more tribally diversed states with high GDP -- their job experience fits the job description . . . if any multi national were hiring for this position, they wouldn't look past them Lagos boys (ex Lagos state governors).


#opinion

SalamRushdie:


Something must be wrong with you for listing Fashola who is our worst power minister ever

989900:
One of my favourites.

My favourites (not in any particular order):

Fashola
Peter Obi
Osinbajo
Donald Duke
Tinubu
Ambode
Obiano
Kachikwu
Sheu Sani
Amosun
Ali (customs)

P.S. The above might not necessarily be election winners, but they are proven performers, some known for their frankness and frugality.
I kinda believe though that for the country to move forward in terms of nationwide development you need someone who has handled the more tribally diversed states with high GDP -- their job experience fits the job description . . . if any multi national were hiring for this position, they wouldn't look past them Lagos boys (ex Lagos state governors).


#opinion

WhoRUDeceiving:


Poor list, and poor zoo

Lakeside79:


Are you kidding me ?

Please outline his failings as a governor let the rest of us learn something

So who is better ? Buhari again?

Okay tell us your preferred candidate ?

989900:


It will be great to see yours.

WhoRUDeceiving:


[s]My list is the following:

TO HELL WITH ELECTIONS IN THE NIGGER AREA..

Happy[/s]?

NeeKlaus:

South South and South East, does that look like a bad combination??

989900:


The above is the problem with you guys on NL, you can never pass your comments without abuses . . . unfortunately, it only makes you come off as . . .

Why must something be wrong with me for stating "my opinion", everyone here stated theirs, these are just opinions, the best you could have done is disagree with facts (unless you don't have any concrete one).

Ironically, if you've been following, you will know that Fash has so far been the best performing Minister of Power, best minister of works and housing this country as ever had, and of course arguably one of the best state governors this country has ever had.

If you need further proof, I'll provide, I posted some topics about this earlier.

You can as well present your case against Fash too -- that's how people air public opinions intelligently, and knowledge shared.

I do have a few things against Fash too, ATEOTD, it's all about trading horses and going with the best devil you know.

NeeKlaus:
As long as he picks Peter Obi as his running mate, then it's all good. Let's see if Obi's purported frugality can move this country forward.

989900:


The above is the problem with you guys on NL, you can never pass your comments without abuses . . . unfortunately, it only makes you come off as . . .

Why must something be wrong with me for stating "my opinion", everyone here stated theirs, these are just opinions, the best you could have done is disagree with facts (unless you don't have any concrete one).

Ironically, if you've been following, you will know that Fash has so far been the best performing Minister of Power, best minister of works and housing this country as ever had, and of course arguably one of the best state governors this country has ever had.

If you need further proof, I'll provide, I posted some topics about this earlier.

You can as well present your case against Fash too -- that's how people air public opinions intelligently, and knowledge shared.

I do have a few things against Fash too, ATEOTD, it's all about trading horses and going with the best devil you know.

ucheo:
This man grounded Cross river state till date with huge debt on his failed Tinapa projects. All the LGAs signed off more than 15 years allocation on that..Banks that reneged to give loan for the project based on their analysis were blacklisted.
Serious hunger dey for CRS till date due to his bogus projects...lets leave what we read here oo and pay a visit to Calabar pls...he wan finish Nigeria with grammer?