Minister, Edem Duke Woos First Lady, Patience Jonathan With Tourism Ambassador Award To Forestall Sack!

…why he may be replaced over allegations of ‘incompetency’

The job of the Minister for Tourism and Culture, Edem Duke is threatened.

And the reason for this is simple- there are certain power blocks that believe a candidate more suited for the job should be put in place.

The High Chief from Cross River state is said not have brought his wealth of experience to bear positively on the ministry he heads.

According to a source ‘already moves are on to replace him on grounds of minimal performance’

The pressure to get him out of office and get ‘a team player’ that will secure concerted efforts with other tourism promotion agencies- and soar the country’s image abroad in the face of diminished stature enhanced by insecurity issues- is described as ‘very heavy’

Minister Edem Duke is widely believe to favour the ‘divide and rule approach’, a development that ensures he is in charge but causes conflicts among those that ordinarily should help move the Tourism industry forward.

This administrative style, identified as a major deterrent at a time the nation rely’s heavily on goodwill of an expected boost in the Tourism sector, is the reason behind the movement to get him out.

Sources claim President Jonathan appears pro the replacement move- as long as the campaigners get a consensus and more credible candidate.

Investigations however revealed, the Minister is however passionately manoeuvring to forestall his sack.

He is assiduously wooing Dame Patience Jonathan,the First Lady to help prevent the looming occurrence.

Sources divulged that making the first lady a Tourism Ambassador was a major attempt towards this.

He performed this task on Monday December 19 2011.

The idea to make Dame Patience Tourism Ambassador of Nigeria is traced to his major ally and fellow player in the industry- Omotayo Omotosho.

She was said to have used the same ploy on late first lady Stella Obasanjo to safe guard her appointment as Director of the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC)

Insiders claimed ‘the duo believes the same formulae should get Duke into the good book of the first lady and ultimately get her to make the president use his influence to retain him’

The President is believed to strongly appreciate the opinion of the First Lady in some quarters.

Though it is not sure whether this may prove right in the case against Minister Edem Duke.

Duke’s influence in government, his ministry and home stead has diminished to such a degree that, his Hotel (The Mirage) was recently shut down on reason of tax evasion- for 2years- by the Cross River state government.

Management of the hotel were made to offset a part of the debt before it was opened.

The collecting agency threatened to repeat the performance if the balance was not paid within a stipulated time

Guests at the place, including foreigners were horrified by the treatment.

This development is believed to further compound the minister’s attempts to save his job according to sources.