Key Takeaways
- Donald Duke warns that Nigeria risks worsening crises in the next four years.
- The former governor cites economic hardship and governance failures as key factors.
- He advocates for opposition unity to provide a viable alternative for the country.
In a stark warning about the future of Nigeria, Donald Duke, the presidential candidate for the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), has stated that unless the country alters its current political and economic trajectory, it could face an even deeper crisis within the next four years. During an exclusive interview with ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, Duke, who previously served as the governor of Cross River State, expressed his concerns over the deteriorating conditions compelling him to return to active politics. He emphasized that remaining a mere observer in these times is no longer a viable option.
“The direction the country is going requires very urgent intervention. In another four years, if we don’t change the trajectory, disaster — which is already looming — will deepen further,” Duke asserted. His decision to seek the presidency stems from an acute awareness of Nigeria's escalating economic challenges and rampant insecurity.
The former governor articulated that the rampant economic distress, coupled with poor governance, significantly influenced his decision. “It’s the urgency — the clear and apparent urgency of where we are today. You could be a spectator and make all sorts of analysis, or you can get involved,” he explained.
According to Duke, the current state of Nigeria's affairs is a result of weak economic growth, ineffective governance, and what he characterized as an extended period of leadership failure. “A combination of all. The economy is broken; it’s not growing. Call it Boko Haram, call it ISWAP, call it banditry or kidnapping — those are the fallout. Those are the symptoms of inadequacy,” he noted.
Duke criticized previous administrations for placing political maneuvering over genuine governance, leading to a decline in public confidence and institutional stability. “In the last 20-plus years, there has been very little governance going on — a lot of politics and no governance. The recent scandal where someone sets up an office in the Federal Secretariat that is not an institution of government shows there is poor governance in the system,” he added.
Duke further scrutinized the management of Nigeria's economy, citing high interest rates as a significant barrier to sustainable growth. “You have poor governance as a derivative of leadership, and you have an economy that is just not growing. How can you grow an economy with interest rates in the upper 30s?” he asked rhetorically.
Looking ahead to the 2027 political landscape, Duke urged for enhanced collaboration among opposition parties, warning that a disjointed opposition would struggle to present a credible and effective alternative to Nigerians. “Ideally, the opposition should come together. 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, I think we all have to come together to decide where this country will go,” Duke emphasized.
He concluded by highlighting that personal ambitions among opposition leaders should yield to the national interest, stressing that Nigeria is currently “in a bad place” and requires collective leadership to change its course.
Why This Matters
Donald Duke's call for urgent political and economic reform underscores the critical juncture Nigeria faces today. With rising instability and economic challenges, it is imperative for leaders to prioritize collaborative governance over individual ambitions to drive meaningful change.