Former
governor of Cross River State Mr. Donald Duke is set to formally
declare his intention to run for the office of President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria in the 2011 elections, according to a source close
to the former governor.

Donald was guest at an interactive session at the Congress Hall, Trade Union
Centre, in Central London on Friday, March 05, 2010, where he spoke
about his desire to contest for the office, if Nigerians are willing to
support his candidacy. The event was hosted by Donald’s friends; Wale
Kalejaiye, Dr. Bayo Adekpetun and Dr.Yemi Ogunbiyi amongst others.

The former governor had formally declared his bid during the 2007
presidential election but the Obasanjo administration forced him to
step aside after it ruled that the PDP’s Presidential ticket was going
to the North.

It is not clear whether Donald would contest under the platform of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party that he won his state’s
governship election on, but pundits expect him to launch his campaign
using another platform to avoid being checkmated by PDP hawks who have
already announced that the north would produce its presidential
candidate for that election.

The saxophone playing Donald Duke is very popular amongst Nigerian eligible
voters who want change in the country. Some pundits have likened him to
United States President Barack Obama and say he can attract a new
generation of voters to the polls that will give him victory in a free
and fair election.

Nigeria is currently in political crisis due to a power tussle between a cabal
using an obviously incapacitated President Umaru Yar’Adua as a pawn in
its power game to checkmate Nigerian Acting President, Dr. Goodluck
Jonathan.

Nigerian pro-democracy activists, The Arewa Consultative Forum, some federal
legislators, former president Olusegun Obasanjo and The United States
government have consistently criticized the cabal for their selfish
actions warning that it may derail the country’s democracy.