Everyone in Abuja is talking about this politician who launched 5 books in a day
- Prominent Nigerians gathered at the Shehu Musa Yar'adua centre on Thursday, December 1
- The occasion was the public presentation and launching of 5 books by Orok Otu Duke
- Duke, a politician and poet was a 2014 delegate to the National Conference
Honourable Orok Otu Duke attracted prominent Nigerians from all walks of life to the public presentation and launch of 5 of his books on Thursday, December 1 at the Shehu Musa Yar'adua centre, Abuja.
Senator Musa Adede unveiling the books
The author, Orok Duke and Hpnourable Emmanuel Ibeshi at the event
Duke, a former deputy speaker in the Cross River state House of Assembly between 1992 and 2007, launched 5 books majorly on poetry to the admiration of all those who graced the occasion.
The books include: My Song, Sentinels, Dances on the Plains, Clementines and Ellipses.
Former governor of Cross River state, Donald Duke delivering a speech at the event
Duke drew from his experiences in politics, public service and his time as a South-south CONFAB 2014 delegate to write the poems and articles which featured in the books.
Among those who graced the occasion were former minister of foreign affairs, General Ike Nwachukwu (rtd) who was the chairman of the event; former Cross River state governor; Donald Duke and the First Nigerian Female Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Engineer Ebele Okeke.
Former Head of Service, Engineeer Ebele Okeke
Others were Umana Okon Umana Managing Director, Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority; Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission; Professor ABC Nwosu, former minister of health; Chief John Odey, former minister of information, Honourable Emmanuel Ibeshi as well as Senators Bassey Ewa-Henshaw and Musa Adede.
During his speech, Nwachukwu urged everyone at the event to read the books, even as he remembered his days with the author at the 2014 CONFAB, who he said was known for his poetry.
On his part, the author said he was pressurised by his friends to produce the hard copies of the book, even though the poems and articles were already online and in different global languages.
Speaking to journalists before the commencement of the event, Duke explained why he was inspired to write.
His words: “When you get frustrated, you write hoping that the younger generation will learn from it in future.
“When you write and you register it with major libraries in the world, your writing remains for 400 years, that is a shortcut to immortality. Posterity will come and assess it.”
Meanwhile, two of the author's work will be published soon. They are Brotherhood (a play) and Broken Lives (a play).