Ex-governor Donald Duke expresses interest in running for president under PDP and promises to deliver if given the chance

It has long been the subject of speculation but in this interview with Dele Momodu, former Cross Rivers state governor, Donald Duke has definitively expressed his desire to run for president on the platform of the PDP. He is of the opinion that zoning should be discarded. He also stated that PDP has a good chance to unseat APC in the next election if they put their house in order and get their strategy right. Read excerpts below.

DELE: Will you run the Presidential race?

DUKE: "Dele, do you want to hear the truth? I seriously want to run but my party, PDP, would have to decide on many things… Our party is well-positioned to win the next election if we can change our style a bit and beat APC at its own game. We must take advantage and benefit from our experience since 1999. Despite our apparent mistakes, Nigerians can now compare and contrast us with APC. What do we need to win the next elections? We must go to the field with our best candidates. We must learn from how we select our footballers. No one cares where you come from. Can you play well? Pronto. We must show clearly that we are more democratic. Zoning is good, but it has not worked well in Nigeria. The time has come to unleash the best brains from every part of Nigeria. We must galvanise our youths. They will never follow or support us if we can’t show how we are different and far better than APC."

The ex-governor promises a permanent turn around in the country's fortunes and a new era if elected.

He said: "If I can get the ticket of my Party, I’m certain that with the support of our members and the youths of Nigeria yearning for urgent restoration of hope, we shall defeat APC. I’m certain Nigerians are anxiously waiting for a leader with proven record of vigour and excellence. They will come out en masse to vote if they see such a candidate. And I promise to join hands with my Party to free Nigeria permanently from recession, oppression and depression. We know what to do to unlock the potentials of our vibrant youths and we possess the most important gift of all, the trust in our ability to take development to every part of our great country and attract our most fertile minds back home from all over the world. Our international friends are also waiting to support the right leadership when they see one. It would be the dawn of a new era in Nigeria."