Former Cross River State Governor and presidential candidate of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, has said his personal friendship with President Bola Tinubu remains intact despite his disagreement with the direction of the current administration.
Duke made the remarks on Monday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, where he criticised the Federal Government’s economic policies and questioned their impact on the living conditions of Nigerians.
The former governor said his relationship with Tinubu dated back to 1998, stressing that their political differences should not be mistaken for personal animosity.
“President Tinubu is my friend since 1998 but I don’t like the direction he’s going. I think we will not achieve much going in this direction. But when it comes to personality, we remain friends,” he said.
Duke’s comments came amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general election and renewed efforts by opposition parties to establish a common platform capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Assessing the state of the Nigerian economy, the PRP presidential candidate argued that the success of government policies should be measured by their effects on citizens’ welfare rather than official claims of economic progress.
He questioned the effectiveness of measures introduced by the Tinubu administration to ease the hardship associated with the removal of fuel subsidy, foreign exchange reforms and other economic policies.
When asked about government interventions, including conditional cash transfers, small business grants, student loans, minimum wage adjustments and the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, Duke challenged the interviewer to identify any of the programmes that had directly improved his circumstances.
“Not one of these policies, would I say, has benefited me in any way,” he said.
He argued that temporary financial assistance could not provide a lasting solution to Nigeria’s economic challenges, insisting that the government should prioritise policies that enable citizens to earn sustainable incomes.
According to him, the focus of governance should be on improving productivity and creating an environment in which individuals and businesses can thrive without depending on periodic government handouts.
“I told you that the mission statement of a government ought to be the productivity of its people,” Duke said.
The former governor also expressed concern over the high cost of borrowing and energy, noting that businesses faced considerable difficulties operating in an environment characterised by high interest rates and rising production costs.
He maintained that Nigeria’s abundant natural and human resources could drive economic growth if properly harnessed, adding that improved domestic productivity would help reduce the country’s dependence on imported goods.
Duke’s criticism comes as the Tinubu administration continues to defend its economic reforms, which include the removal of petrol subsidy and changes to the foreign exchange market, as necessary measures to stabilise the economy.
However, the reforms have drawn criticism from sections of the public and opposition figures over their immediate effects on the cost of living and the purchasing power of households.
The PRP presidential candidate maintained that his position on the administration was informed by concerns about governance, economic management and the future of the country, rather than his personal relationship with the president.
He stressed that political leaders should be assessed on their ability to improve the welfare of citizens, irrespective of personal friendships or party affiliations.
