I Used Tourism To Rescue Cross River State From Financial Crunch – Donald Duke

Former governor of Cross Rivers State, Donald Duke in a presentation at the Culture and Tourism Summit hosted by Federal Ministry of Information and Culture in Abuja on Thursday said he used Tourism to rescue the state from economic crisis during his administration.

Duke who lamented the ceding of Bakassi peninsular – the oil rich part of Cross River to Cameroun by the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo said it affected the revenue accrued to the state Negatively.
He said attempts by Obasanjo to convince a neighbouring state, Akwa Ibom, to share its oil revenue with Cross River was resisted by the then Governor Victor Attah.

Duke also called for the revival of National Tourism Commission to champion the cause.

It will be recalled that Duke as governor created the Obudu Ranch International Mountain Race which has become one of the most lucrative mountain running competitions in the world. He also initiated Tinapa Resort project to boost business and tourism in the state.