Tourism Minister, Edem Duke Fingered As Brain Behind NTDC Boss, Runsewe’s Removal Plot

…board chairman, Anya revealed plan to save self

High Chief, Edem Duke, the minister for Culture, Tourism and National Orientaion has been identified as the architect of the plot to remove Director General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation,Otunba Segun Runsewe.

Information revealed that the grand plot was to eventually convert the recent suspension to sack- before the presidency stepped in.

The temporary removal from office was meant to test Runsewe”s popularity in and out of government before making the final decision.

The initiators did not anticipate the general outcry that forced the presidency to overturn their decision within twenty-four hours.

Insiders revealed that Board Chairman,Uche Anya”s summation when summoned by the presidency revealed that he was just a pawn in a power game orchestrated by Minister Duke.

The NTDC board chairman suspended Runsewe,a presidential appointee, based on approval from the minister. Duke was said to have given Anya the idea that he had the backing of the president over the move.

Investigations conducted by www.societynowng.com revealed that Runsewe and Duke have been on opposing sides of tourism issues since the minister’s days as President of the Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria and until recently, head of the Nigerian Tourism Exhibition Group.

The differences in professional opinion and administration had turned another degree, when Duke sided with former Tourism minister Adetokunbo Kayode in battling Runsewe.

The agenda then was to remove Runsewe and put an administrator sympathetic to their cause in place.

The NTDC Boss, a well grounded figure in both local and international tourism arenas had resisted the move calling into play his wealth of influence and goodwill.

Sources disclosed that Runsewe beliefs “their cause” is inimical to the growth of the nation’s tourism industry.

Based on Anya’s summation, followers of events are of the opinion that Duke appears out to achieve the failed removal bid of time past.

Whether he will eventual get to achieve his agenda is yet to be seen.

But what is so attractive about Runsewe’s job that Duke and those he represents are making a move for it barely settling into his own job and why is there always a general outcry each time such a move is made?

Informed sources revealed it all has root in the turn around the agency has witnessed since Runsewe came on board.

He has made the place attractive and commercially viable for the ministry to such an extent that those against him believe they have to control his seat to survive in their job. And his backers are helping him to scuttle such attempts on the conviction that Runsewe still has a lot to offer and those bent on replacing have not manifested any serious alternative to his winning formulas.