, Donald Duke, has explained why he is seeking to become Nigeria’s president.){kind=link}
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, has explained why he is seeking to become Nigeria’s president in the 2027 general election, saying his ambition is driven by a desire to tackle the country’s challenges and provide Nigerians with a new lease of life.
Duke, a former governor of Cross River State, made his position known while speaking with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday. He criticised the quality of leadership Nigeria has experienced since the return to democratic rule in 1979, arguing that the country has yet to witness the kind of leadership vision needed to drive sustained national development.
According to him, successive administrations have introduced political programmes and policies but have failed to provide the direction required to translate those plans into meaningful economic and political progress.
“There has been frustration in the political system since the return to democracy. In reality, we could have done better than what we have if we had the right leadership. Since the return to democratic rule, there have been successive governments but there has not been one with leadership vision.
“That is why I have put up myself in order to provide the needed leadership to change the political question and provide the required development and growth. We in the political system do not need mudslinging but to tell Nigerians what we can do for the country,” he said.
Duke argued that the country’s challenges cannot be addressed simply through political programmes without a clearly defined vision and effective leadership to implement them.
Donald Duke calls for opposition unity ahead of 2027
As political parties position themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential election, Duke said opposition parties have a chance of defeating the incumbent administration if they can put aside their differences and unite behind a common candidate.
The PRP candidate warned that a fragmented opposition could give the President Bola Tinubu-led administration an advantage at the polls.
He maintained that the All Progressives Congress (APC) could still lose the election despite controlling more than 30 states if opposition parties were able to agree on a common political objective and rally around a candidate capable of challenging the ruling party.
His comments come amid growing discussions among opposition politicians over possible alliances and strategies for the 2027 election.
Duke backs fuel subsidy
On the economy, Duke said he supports the idea of subsidising petroleum products, arguing that government should not implement policies that further increase the financial pressure on Nigerians.
He criticised the removal of the fuel subsidy and the sale of petroleum products at what he described as foreign-market rates.
According to Duke, Nigeria’s natural resources should provide greater benefits to its citizens rather than contribute to additional hardship.
His position places him firmly on the side of those calling for policies that reduce the burden of fuel costs on households and businesses.
Former Cross River governor supports state police
Duke also expressed support for the establishment of state police, describing the idea as long overdue given the country’s security challenges.
He linked the need for a more decentralised policing structure to rising poverty-related crime and insecurity, arguing that local authorities could be better positioned to respond to security problems within their communities.
The issue of state police has remained an important part of Nigeria’s wider debate over security sector reform and the structure of policing in the country.
Donald Duke raises concerns over student loans
On student loans, the PRP presidential candidate described the initiative as a good idea but raised concerns about how beneficiaries would repay the loans after graduation.
Duke argued that graduates could struggle to meet their repayment obligations if they were unable to secure employment.
He therefore called for employment-generating policies to be incorporated into the student loan programme and other government interventions.
For Duke, providing access to education financing should go hand in hand with creating economic opportunities that enable graduates to earn incomes and repay their obligations.
Duke wants better alignment of economic policies
Duke also criticised the gap between government expenditure and revenue generation, saying Nigeria needs policies that better align monetary and fiscal measures.
He argued that economic policies should be designed to stimulate wealth creation, strengthen economic activity and ultimately improve the living conditions of Nigerians.
The former Cross River State governor said the country needs an approach that goes beyond individual government programmes and focuses on creating an environment where citizens can participate meaningfully in economic growth.
2027 presidential race gathers momentum
Duke’s comments come as political parties, opposition groups and potential presidential candidates begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general election.
His campaign is centred on leadership, economic policy, security, employment and the need for opposition parties to work together.
With the 2027 election approaching, issues such as fuel pricing, education financing, state police, economic management and the quality of political leadership are expected to remain central to the national debate.
For Duke, the decision to contest the presidency is ultimately about providing what he describes as the leadership vision needed to address Nigeria’s longstanding challenges and deliver better outcomes for Nigerians.
READ ALSO: https://e247mag.com/power-outage-hits-lekki-ajah-ibeju-lekki-as-12-feeders-go-down-ekedp/
Read Also:https://e247mag.com/atiku-1-2m-lobbying-gamble-exposed/