A former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, on Tuesday declared that he wants to be Nigeria’s President.
The ex-governor spoke at a programme, “The Nigerian Symposium for Emerging Leaders,” held in Lagos.
Duke said though he once aspired to the position but did not emerge
the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, he would still
contest for the highest office in the country at the appropriate time.
He further explained that it was because of his preference for the
presidential seat that he did not vie for any federal legislative seat
after serving out his terms as governor.
He said, “I do not have the flair for the legislature; standing up
and sitting down at the chambers to raise a point. That was why I did
not contest for the Senate but the presidency, after serving out my term
as governor.”
“I have contested the presidency before; I will still give it a shot
when the opportunity presents itself. I believe I still have the energy
in me,” he said.
He, however, canvassed the reform of the country`s political system to accommodate wider participation and good governance.
He suggested the review of the electoral law to allow for independent
candidacy. Duke said the country`s democracy would fare better if young
people, who form the larger proportion of the population,took more
active part in its political process.
