Abayomi Susan
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) for the 2027 general election, Donald Duke, has warned that Nigeria could face deeper social and economic challenges unless urgent reforms are implemented to change the country’s current trajectory.
Duke, a former governor of Cross River State, said the next administration must prioritise insecurity, agriculture, infrastructure, education and healthcare while creating a business-friendly environment capable of supporting sustainable economic growth.
He attributed the country’s worsening security situation and economic hardship to years of weak governance, ineffective leadership and the failure to grow the economy in line with the rapidly increasing population.
“The direction the country is going requires very urgent intervention. Another four years, if we don’t change the trajectory, I see disasters where it is already looming. It will deepen further,” Duke said in an interview in Lagos.
The PRP candidate said his return to frontline politics was motivated by the need to contribute to addressing what he described as Nigeria’s increasingly critical situation.
Duke called on political leaders to set aside personal interests and work towards a new national direction. He also urged opposition parties to unite behind a credible alternative ahead of the 2027 election.
On insecurity, he argued that military action alone would not solve insurgency, banditry and kidnapping, noting that economic hardship and lack of opportunities also contribute to the problems.
He advocated increased investment, affordable credit, improved security and policies that would enable Nigerians to create wealth. He also called for agriculture to be repositioned as a key driver of economic growth through better infrastructure, financing and security.
Duke further stressed the need to rehabilitate critical infrastructure, improve education and strengthen healthcare, saying a productive economy requires reliable infrastructure and a healthy, skilled population.
Drawing from his tenure as Cross River governor, he cited the Calabar Carnival and Obudu Ranch as examples of how investment in a state’s unique economic strengths could attract visitors, create jobs and stimulate economic activity.
“Every state in Nigeria has something to sell,” Duke said, arguing that states should identify and develop their economic advantages rather than rely heavily on federal allocations.
He said Nigeria needs a long-term development strategy that would enable states to generate wealth, create employment and reduce dependence on government spending.
Duke warned that failure to change direction could worsen economic hardship, unemployment and insecurity, potentially creating greater instability.
He maintained that the 2027 election should focus on competing ideas and practical solutions to Nigeria’s challenges rather than personal ambitions, adding that the country still possesses the human and natural resources needed to improve its fortunes if supported by effective leadership and long-term reforms.
