Donald Duke: Tinubu Is My Friend, but I Disagree With His Politics

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

Duke made this known on Monday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State.

The former governor, who said his relationship with Tinubu dated back to 1998, explained that their political differences should not be mistaken for personal hostility.

“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 remarks came amid discussions about Nigeria’s economic challenges and efforts by opposition parties to build a common platform ahead of the 2027 general election.

The PRP presidential candidate criticised the economic hardship confronting Nigerians, arguing that government policies should be assessed based on their impact on citizens’ living conditions and productivity.

He questioned the effectiveness of measures introduced by the Tinubu administration to cushion the effects of petrol subsidy removal, foreign exchange reforms and other economic policies.

When presented with 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 measures 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 replace policies designed to improve productivity, create sustainable jobs and enable Nigerians to earn better incomes.

According to Duke, the primary responsibility of government should be to create an environment where citizens can work, generate income and improve their standard of living.

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

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

He maintained that Nigeria’s natural and human resources should be better harnessed to strengthen productivity, support local industries and reduce dependence on imports.

Duke’s criticism of Tinubu’s administration, he said, was rooted in concerns about governance and the country’s economic direction rather than personal animosity towards the president.

The PRP candidate’s position comes as political consultations and alliance discussions intensify among opposition parties ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

He has argued that opposition leaders need to agree on a common national agenda and the future direction of the country, while insisting that political differences should not destroy personal relationships.