Duke calls for urgent national reset over deepening crisis

Presidential candidate of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) for the 2027 general election, Donald Duke, has called for urgent and comprehensive reforms to address Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, revitalise agriculture, rebuild critical infrastructure, strengthen the education and healthcare systems, and create a more business-friendly environment capable of driving sustainable economic growth.

The former Cross River state governor, who recently emerged as the PRP presidential flag bearer said Nigeria is currently grappling with a combination of weak governance, ineffective leadership, and a stagnant economy.

He pointed out that the opposition must unite to present Nigerians with a credible alternative capable of addressing the nation’s pressing challenges.

He warned that unless the country’s current trajectory is decisively reversed, Nigeria risks sliding further into a severe social and economic crisis.

Speaking in an interview with reporters in Abuja  Wednesday, Duke said his decision to return to frontline politics was driven by what he described as the urgency of Nigeria’s situation.

 “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,” he said.

He added that the political class must rise above personal ambitions to chart a new national direction.

Duke stated further that Nigeria’s economy has failed to grow in line with its rapidly expanding population, attributing the rise in insecurity across the country to decades of poor governance.

He said insurgency, banditry and kidnapping are symptoms of economic dysfunction, adding that the government must prioritise productive investment, affordable credit, improved security, and policies that enable citizens to generate wealth.

Reflecting on his tenure as governor of Cross River state, Duke said his administration deliberately focused on agriculture and tourism after identifying the state’s comparative advantages.

 He noted that the Calabar Carnival attracted over one million visitors annually in December alone, while investments in the Obudu Ranch transformed the area into a thriving tourism destination that created jobs and stimulated economic activity.