2011: Not about Donald Duke

It was billed as “An Evening with Donald” – sponsored by “Friends of Donald.” The select, invitation-only affair took place on Tuesday, March 9, 2010, and it was well-attended by personalities from across the tri-state of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. I arrived at Crowne Plaza Hotel by La Guardia Airport in East Elmhurst, NY before 7:00 PM. The organizers were already set and ready for an event billed for 7:30 PM.

Planning Committee member Ms. Jameelah Abdulsalam was welcoming. I got a gift bag of personalized diary/pen and a brief bio of Donald Duke, the distinguished guest of honor, upon signing in as his special guest from 100 kilometers across the Hudson. By 7:30, the event kicked off with a cocktail of wines: Chardonnay and Merlot, no Cabernet Sauvignon, and munchies. The special guest of honor joined us within the hour.

I had last seen Donald on October 3, 2009 at Zodiac Hotel, Enugu. He was so knowledgeable and so passionate about a better Nigeria I let him know through a mutual friend that 2011 awaits him, regardless of his party’s unconstitutional “zoning” of the presidency of Nigeria between the mainly Muslim north and predominantly Christian south. By October last year, I felt that the mood of most Nigerians was tuned to embracing a leader in the Obama mold, someone with a clear vision and a passion to match. Something told me in 2009 that Donald is the man.

Fast forward to New York, NY 2010. We met again. Mr. Donald Duke appears to know of everyone. I still marvel how he does it. A few only needed to whisper a clue for him to reconnect. After brief exchanges of pleasantries, Ms. Buky Campbell shepherded us to an 8.30 PM buffet dinner of rice, fish, chicken, moin-moin, seafood, and vegetable salad... after the anthems, of course.

This was followed by a short video presentation titled “The Duke Years.” The professional production showcased his achievements as two-term governor of Cross River State: his political philosophy, his economic thinking, his sense of social responsibility, why he settled on pineapple as cash crop for some Cross River famers, how Tinapa created long-term jobs for thousands of locals, how the acquired skills are used in other spheres of the economy today and, of course, the tourism potentials of Obudu that goes beyond beauty; it infuses loads money into the local economy.

“The quality of a society depends on the people who manage the society,” Donald declared in an address to invitees. He opined that in the history of Nigeria leaders have been thrust on the society, not necessarily persons who have the passion to lead. The result has become obvious. Nigeria, he noted, has been in the news since December 2009 for all the wrong reasons, to the point of now being suspected as suicide bombers --when it is common knowledge that average Nigerians are happy and love life.

Too many people wake up every day with nothing to do, he posited. In the north, an estimated 10 million young males roam the streets begging for alms. In the south, with seven out ten out of work, the scourge of areas boys and kidnappers has become a part of social reality. It's no wonder Jos happens, Boko Haram, Niger Delta militants, etc. In essence, Nigeria is sitting on a time bomb.

To stop the slide, Donald echoed the theme of the evening: “ENOUGH!” He challenged everyone to “get involved.” To an animated applause, he declared; “It is not about me; it is about us: It is about generations to come. We can win. We will win. I want your passion. Only your passion will see us through. We are probably the last generation that will make the change happen.”

There was no overt talk about Donald Duke’s presidential ambition mainly because everyone knew it was merely a matter of when, not if. Regardless, Donald himself brought it up when he denounced his party’s “musical chair” of zoning the presidency. He pointed out that the so-called stakeholders had already pooh-poohed Acting President Goodluck Jonathan’s rights to run even before he became president, effectively making his tenure a lame-duck presidency.

This assertion addressed the concern of those who wonder about two south-south citizens running for the presidency in 2011. To those who tell him to wait for the turn-by-turn policy of PDP to come south in 2015, Donald reminded his audience that the same thinking got Nigeria into the mess of a sick president stealing into the presidency in an ambulance, a sad metaphor for the leader of African world.

Mr. Donald Duke dwelt further on the president’s health during the question-and-answer session, which was moderated by famous Ekerete Udoh, now publisher of Diaspora Star and also a member of the planning committee. The president, Donald posited, is “public property.” When a president takes ill, the country does everything to make him whole again. He pointed out that an ambulance is usually a part of the presidential convoy to make sure all flanks are covered.

Nigerians do not rejoice in fellow citizens' misfortune, Donald offered. He recalled that when General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) suffered from radiculopathy, a term very few Nigerians had heard, he was flown abroad for proper medical attention. He also revealed that IBB confessed to gaining the faith to get better from popular good wishes, that he (IBB) had thought he would be paralyzed for life.

On the healthcare, Donald stated that every ward should have a health center; every local government, at least a general hospital. However, buildings do not provide care; it takes motivated providers who are adequately compensated.

On the political situation, he noted that “political gladiators of all stripes” want power for power sake, not governance; “We must not sacrifice the ideal of governance on the altar of politics,” he noted in his biography, “the best politics is doing the right thing.” Donald pointed out that his party, PDP, now uses “Power” in its slogan, not “Power to the People.” Someone unconsciously jettisoned the popular authority along the line because votes no longer count. And for this, “change must occur.”

With time encroaching and the moderators leaning to stop, Donald asked for all the cards and went on to address wide-ranging questions about rigging elections, righting past wrongs, corruption, coming home, etc. The underlying solution to these problems is not in rehashing them but in enlightened citizens getting evolved. He cited Anambra State with one of the best brains and accomplished persons in Nigeria. Unfortunately, many of the elites have turned themselves into critics and cynics, not participants. The problem with hiring the wrong people for the serious job of governance is like hiring a pilot and expecting him to ask passengers for guidance at every altitude. Such an aircraft is doomed from takeoff.

Addressing back-to-base concerns, Donald Duke stated that he understands the dynamics: He was himself a diasporean; he only left early enough… before he got married. “You cannot leave the certainly of life here for the uncertainty of life there.” But, “Nigeria can take care of all of us; in fact, Nigeria needs our services more than the United States or Europe.” Patriotism, he opined, is built on socioeconomic and political stakeholders; a sense of belonging makes “We the people…” believable.

Rounding up, Donald said: “I have not said anything you have not heard before. This is not about Donald Duke; it is not even about you: it is about those coming after us.” By “bringing together our passion, our resources, our energy to serve our nation,” change can occur. Waxing philosophical, Donald wondered how much money and property it would take for people to be content: Money is a tool. Money does not solve problems; you do not throw money at problems. People solve problems using money.

The time went a bit beyond the 11.00 pm timeline, but no one was in a hurry to leave. Comments by Dr. Olukayode Ojutiku and closing remarks by Dr. Lai Ogunbiyi, the other two members of the planning committee, brought the event formally to an end. One card that Donald didn't get to see nor address sat on my table: "Will you marry me?"

The rest of the evening was devoted to book-signing of a beautiful biography “Doing The Right Thing: The Donald Duke Story.” With a foreword by the Emir of Zazzau (Zaria), Alhaji Shehu Idris, the book was beautifully put together by Yemi Ogunbiyi, a former managing director of the Daily Times of Nigeria, and Olaokun Soyinka, a medical doctor with interest in telemedicine.

The "Evening" was a class New York act: surprisingly on-time, well-planned, and timely executed. The near-50 listed "Friends of Donald" deserve loads of kudos. Not being a New Yorker, I didn't know many of the attendees. However, I could not miss to chat with Chief Ikedi Nwade, the father of PDP-USA, Alex Kabba, the publisher of African Abroad, the father-uncle-son Ogunbiyi trio from Pennsylvania, Okenfe Lebarty, who is running for State Assembly District 31 in New York, and Mike Adeniyi of Nigeria's Independence Day parade.

The road show that began in London last week is set to continue across these United States, down south and out west. Donald must have made many lasting and loyal friends during his two-term tenure as governor, unlike many who came out with many lifetime enemies. He is set to make waves in 2011. He has cultivated a lot of goodwill across Nigeria and in the Nigerian Diaspora. His Facebook fans are in the thousands and growing, and Internet forums are abuzz with discussions about his prospects and challenges.

If Donald eventually declares to run, the major problem will be streamlining the organizational hierarchy of The Donald Duke Organization. Too many hands spoil the soup. A situation where different individuals are managing different, uncoordinated web outlets geared toward promoting his candidacy fritters away resources, dissipates energies, and may miss potential volunteers and activists. All registered websites should point to one centralized base managed by dedicated professionals.

Donald’s campaign will be the first electronic presidential candidate in Nigeria’s history, a Howard Dean and an Obama combined. A whole lot of work will be done on the Internet, especially raising of needed funds. To avoid anything untoward happening, the database must be managed by highly motivated and honest professionals whose integrity cannot be compromised.

Donald is the only EFCC-certified ex-governor. This counts for a lot in a country that is deeply corrupt and where half-honest politicians are counted on one hand. He cannot afford to sacrifice the accomplishment as he steps into the dangerous waters of politicking in Cyberspace. His opponents are not going to give him an easy pass. An easy path to depleting the dedication of Donald Duke's devotees is to compromise the integrity of his fundraising foundation.

He must appoint point persons in every state/city or region with an eye to building “The Donald Duke Organization” into a properly registered political action committee. The Organization can no longer be contained among “friends of Donald”; the train is leaving the station, and it is about time all intended passengers came on board.

If Nigerians want “change” in 2011, this movement must snowball into a political revolution built around Donald Duke and very similar to Barrack Obama 2008. It will happen with an enlarged and centralized command that is open, transparent and, yes, passionate about change. Indeed, it is no longer about Donald Duke; it is now about salvaging a sociopolitical setup that is fast passing its sell-by date.

Everything else is embellishment.