Donald Duke, former governor of Cross River State and presidential candidate for the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), has issued a stark warning that Nigeria is on a perilous course, calling for swift intervention to prevent an impending national crisis.
During an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, Duke expressed his reasons for returning to active politics as the 2027 general elections approach. He emphasized that the urgent state of the nation requires proactive measures rather than passive observation, stressing the need to change Nigeria’s political and economic direction.
“I returned to politics due to the urgent situation in Nigeria today. We face disaster if the trajectory isn’t altered,” Duke stated.
He highlighted that citizens have two options: remain as spectators analyzing the nation’s challenges or actively participate in changing its course.
“You can either watch and analyze from the sidelines or get involved. The country’s path demands urgent intervention,” he remarked.
Calls for Opposition Unity
Duke also noted that many of today’s political leaders are from the same generation that initiated the Fourth Republic in 1999. Reflecting on his simultaneous election with President Bola Tinubu during that political shift, he criticized the leadership’s failure to adequately address Nigeria’s significant issues.
“The current leaders, including myself and the president, are from the class of ’99, but there is an urgent need to redirect the country’s course,” he commented.
As an opposition member, Duke urged other opposition parties to set aside internal differences and unite before the 2027 elections. He asserted that a united opposition could offer a credible alternative capable of reshaping Nigeria’s trajectory.
“Being outside the ruling party places me in the opposition. Ideally, opposition should come together,” Duke stated.
He stressed that Nigeria’s future hinges on effective leadership, political unity, and policies designed to tackle economic and governance challenges facing the nation.
