Tinubu Is My Friend, But I Disagree With His Politics — Donald Duke

By Ameh Sunday Enyo-ojo

Former Cross River State Governor and 2027 presidential candidate of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, has said his friendship with President Bola Tinubu remains intact despite his disagreement with the direction of the administration.

Duke made this known on Monday during an interview, noting that their relationship dates back to 1998.

“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.

The PRP presidential candidate made the remarks while discussing Nigeria’s economic challenges and efforts by opposition parties to build a common platform ahead of the 2027 general election.

Duke criticised the impact of the Tinubu administration’s economic policies, arguing that government performance should be measured by improvements in citizens’ living conditions rather than official claims of economic progress.

Reacting to government interventions such as conditional cash transfers, small-business grants, student loans, minimum wage adjustments and the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, Duke questioned their impact on his personal 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 replace policies designed to improve productivity, create sustainable jobs and enable Nigerians to earn better incomes.

“I told you that the mission statement of a government ought to be the productivity of its people,” Duke added.

The former governor also expressed concern over high interest rates, energy costs and the difficulties faced by businesses that rely on bank financing.

He maintained that Nigeria must better utilise its natural and human resources to boost productivity and reduce dependence on imports.

Duke said his criticism of Tinubu was based on concerns about governance and the country’s economic direction, not personal animosity, adding that political leaders should ultimately be judged by their impact on Nigerians’ welfare.