Former Cross River State Governor and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate, Donald Duke, has described Nigeria as a failed state, blaming worsening poverty, unemployment, insecurity and economic decline for the country’s deepening crisis.
Duke, who is seeking to contest the 2027 presidential election, said he could no longer remain on the sidelines while the nation’s challenges continued to worsen without offering himself as an alternative.
Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, the former governor said his decision to enter the presidential race was driven by the urgent need to change Nigeria’s current economic and social direction.
He acknowledged that victory at the polls was not guaranteed but maintained that he did not want to look back and regret failing to act when the country needed leadership.
Duke warned that Nigeria could not afford another four years of what he described as economic and social deterioration, insisting that the country’s problems required urgent and practical solutions.
‘The Middle Class No Longer Exists’
The PRP candidate identified the decline of Nigeria’s middle class as one of the clearest signs of the country’s economic difficulties.
According to him, many Nigerians who previously enjoyed financial stability are now struggling to meet basic needs, leaving them vulnerable to poverty whenever unexpected expenses arise.
He argued that the gap between the wealthy and the poor had widened, with a growing number of households finding it increasingly difficult to maintain their standard of living.
Duke also expressed concern over the condition of businesses, saying many enterprises were contracting while new ones were not emerging quickly enough to create employment opportunities for the country’s expanding population.
He questioned how an economy could adequately support millions of graduates entering the labour market every year when available jobs remained insufficient.
Duke Links Insecurity to Poverty and Unemployment
The former governor argued that kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and other violent crimes could not be addressed sustainably without tackling their underlying economic causes.
He maintained that poverty and unemployment were contributing factors to insecurity, warning that relying mainly on military and law enforcement operations would amount to treating symptoms rather than addressing deeper problems.
Duke said governments needed to create an environment where businesses could grow, employment opportunities could expand and citizens could earn a living without being pushed into desperation.
He also argued that a country’s institutions should be judged not merely by their existence but by their ability to protect citizens and provide conditions that allow people to live productive lives.
For him, the inability to guarantee safety and economic opportunity raises fundamental questions about the effectiveness of government.
Why He Is Contesting in 2027
Explaining his decision to seek the presidency, Duke said his campaign would focus on policies and practical solutions rather than personalities.
He urged Nigerians to examine the plans presented by political candidates and assess how they intend to address the country’s economic difficulties, insecurity and unemployment.
The PRP candidate’s remarks add to the growing political debate ahead of the 2027 general election, with opposition figures increasingly highlighting the cost of living, job creation and public safety as central campaign issues.
While Duke’s description of Nigeria as a failed state reflects his political assessment, his comments underscore the concerns surrounding economic hardship, insecurity and the ability of the middle class to withstand financial shocks.
#DonaldDuke #PRP #2027Elections #NigeriaPolitics #FailedState #EconomicHardship #Unemployment #Insecurity #MiddleClass #OnPointGist
