Giants Never Retire – Gov Otu Hails Edem Duke After Private Visit

Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has paid a private visit to High Chief Edem Duke, hailing the former minister as one of Nigeria’s enduring intellectual and cultural pillars whose relevance continues to transcend time and office.

The state helmsman described Duke as “a restless intellect, one whose footprints defy erasure,” adding that he remains “a mind too vast for confinement and a patriot whose ideas transcend seasons.”

He said Duke’s influence on national culture and civic consciousness has remained consistent, even outside formal public office.

According to the governor, Duke exemplifies a rare blend of intellect, patriotism and cultural consciousness, noting that “at this stage of his journey, he stands tall as a master builder of culture and conscience, an engineer of national identity.”

He added that Duke’s public service consistently “challenged mediocrity and inspired young minds to dare history.”

Otu said his visit was also an opportunity to reflect on shared optimism about the future, stressing that “we reaffirmed our belief in a better Nigeria and the power of ideas to shape that future.”

The Cross River State number one citizen noted that he encouraged Duke to continue offering his wisdom, saying, “men of depth never truly retire; their impact only widens.”

The governor disclosed that he prayed for renewed strength and good health for the elder statesman, emphasising that “giants, indeed, never retire from relevance; they only ascend to higher planes of impact,” as he urged Duke to keep giving his best in service to the nation.