EXTRA: I stood as contact person when Ita Giwa had breast implant, says Donald Duke

BY SAMUEL AKPAN

Donald Duke, former governor of Cross River, says he stood as the contact person when Florence Ita-Giwa, a former senator, had a breast implant, liposuction and cosmetic surgery. 

The former governor brought the revelation to light in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that uses a suction technique to remove fat from specific areas of the body, such as the abdomen, hips, thighs, buttocks, arms, or neck. 

“On a personal note, I stood in as her person of contact when she did liposuction, breast implant and upliftment, so I consider her somewhat of an aunt, a next of kin,” the statement reads.

Duke, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also explained why he did not respond to Giwa’s diatribes in the past.

He described Giwa as his aunty, saying it would be a “betrayal of my upbringing to be abusive or cast aspersions on such a personage”.

“Politics should never be a platform that denigrates the ethos of respect to our elders,” Duke said.

Duke also alleged that Giwa is not from Cross River, even though she has represented the state at the national assembly.

“Earlier last year, she scoffed at a meeting I held at my residence to harmonize southern aspirants under the platform of the PDP, she was vexed she was not invited,” Duke said.

“I apologized to her, but made it clear she did not qualify to attend, as 1: She’s not a member of the PDP and 2: although she bears the honorific title of “Eka Iban”, in the strict sense, she’s neither Efik nor of southern Cross River origin. (She’s paternally from Atabong in Akwa Ibom State and maternally from Umuahia in Abia State).”

Responding to one of the aspersions from Giwa, Duke said he was not poor before he ran for the office of governor.

“Recently, she queried my gender, frankly, I’m pleased she’s not in a position to confirm as that would have been sacrilegious, but I am indeed a proud father of 3 biological children,” the statement reads.

“On the issue of me being indigent prior to being elected governor, I needn’t remind her or anyone my pedigree and that I self sponsored my elections even at that time of political uncertainty.”