I Brought Cross River out of Financial Crunch through Tourism – Donald Duke

Donald Duke, Ex-Governor of Rivers State, during a presentation at the Culture and Tourism Summit hosted by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture in Abuja on Thursday, said he developed culture and tourism in order to rescue the State from financial crunch when he was in charge.

He also said that following the relinquishing of Bakassi peninsular – the oil rich part of Cross River to Cameroun by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo – the revenue accruing to the state crumbled.

According to Duke, the fall in the state’s revenue was like a blow to the state as efforts to revive it proved abortive. His administration then, took practical measures to develop tourism sites in the state and initiated the Calabar Festival and Tinapa Resorts which had become money spinners.

During the summit, Duke mentioned that the annual festival which holds every December attracts no fewer than six million visitors and generates billions of naira to the coffers of the state

He also applauded the decision of the federal government to use culture and tourism to resuscitate the deteriorating oil revenue. He also said the feat would be achievable through determination, commitment, and cooperation of the officials involved.

During the tenure of Duke, it will be elicited that he created the Obudu Cattle Ranch International Mountain Race which has since then, become one of the most lucrative mountain running competitions, home and abroad.

Frank Aig-Imoukhuede, an expert in cultural matters, urged the government to develop concerts, soccer, carnivals, exhibitions and festivals. The octogenarian journalist and poet, in a presentation at the summit said that development of the sectors would make the rural populace to be self-reliant.