Donald Duke warns of disaster if Nigeria’s trajectory is not changed in four years
Presidential Candidate Donald Duke Warns of Crisis in Nigeria
Donald Duke, the presidential candidate for the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), expressed concern on Wednesday that Nigeria may face a deeper crisis within the next four years unless there is a significant change in its political and economic direction.
In an exclusive interview with ARISE NEWS, Duke, a former governor of Cross River State, stated that the worsening conditions in the country prompted him to return to active politics. He emphasized that remaining an observer was no longer viable.
“The direction the country is going requires very urgent intervention,” Duke said. “If we don’t change the trajectory in the next four years, disaster, which is already looming, will deepen further.”
Duke attributed his decision to seek the presidency to Nigeria’s escalating economic challenges, insecurity, and governance issues. He highlighted the urgency of the current situation, indicating that analysis without action is insufficient.
“The urgency of where we are today is clear and apparent,” he said. “You could be a spectator and make all sorts of analysis, or you can get involved.”
According to Duke, Nigeria’s challenges stem from weak economic growth, inadequate governance, and years of leadership failure. He described the deteriorating state of the economy and the rise in security threats—such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, banditry, and kidnapping—as symptoms of broader inadequacies.
“Successive administrations have prioritized politics over governance, leading to institutional weaknesses and declining public confidence,” he noted. “In the last 20-plus years, there has been very little governance going on—much politics and no governance.”
Duke critiqued Nigeria’s economic management, particularly high interest rates, which he argued hinder sustainable growth. “How can you grow an economy with interest rates in the upper 30s?” he asked.
Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, Duke emphasized the importance of unity among opposition parties, stating that a fragmented opposition would struggle to present a credible alternative to the current administration.
“Ideally, the opposition should come together,” he said. “We have a splintered opposition with a common goal, but it doesn’t work that way. I want to be the voice of reason, because eventually, we all have to come together to decide where this country will go.”
He called for personal ambitions among opposition leaders to take a backseat to national interests, asserting that Nigeria is “in a bad place” and requires collective leadership to change its course.
