NIGERIANS WERE BETTER OFF IN 1999 THAN THEY ARE TODAY, DONALD DUKE SAYS
Peoples Redemption Party presidential candidate Donald Duke has argued that Nigerians were economically better off when the country returned to democratic rule in 1999 than they are today.
Duke, a former governor of Cross River State, made the remarks during an interview on the Policy Without Politics podcast, where he questioned what Nigeria has achieved after more than two decades of uninterrupted constitutional democracy. (TheCable)
DUKE CALLS NIGERIA’S DEMOCRACY A FACADE
According to Duke, Nigeria has become progressively poorer despite remaining under civilian government since 1999.
“We’re really not in a democracy. It’s a facade. And with each cycle, we get poorer,” Duke said.
He argued that everyday life was considerably more affordable when Nigeria returned to civilian rule.
“I can say to you very clearly that in 1999, the people were better off than they are today, in 2026. They were much better off. The country was more affordable,” he said. (TheCable)
Nigeria returned to democratic government in 1999 when Olusegun Obasanjo took office following years of military rule.
DUKE QUESTIONS NIGERIA’S ECONOMIC PROGRESS
Duke also compared Nigeria’s present fiscal position with the administration of former President Shehu Shagari in the early 1980s.
He said Nigeria had an annual budget of roughly $25 billion at the time, when its population was around 70 million.
Duke argued that Nigeria’s population has since grown to more than 200 million people while the dollar value of the federal budget has remained around a similar level.
He blamed the huge increase in the budget when expressed in naira partly on the dramatic depreciation of the currency.
Duke also argued that employment and productivity should be given greater importance when assessing Nigeria’s economic performance.
SECURITY AND ECONOMIC HARDSHIP
The presidential candidate linked Nigeria’s insecurity, including kidnapping, banditry and insurgency, to the country’s economic difficulties.
He argued that one of government’s fundamental responsibilities is creating a safe environment where citizens can work and become productive.
Duke’s comments come as Nigerians continue to struggle with high living costs, inflation and the effects of the naira’s depreciation.
His assessment that Nigerians were better off in 1999 remains a political and economic argument rather than a single objectively measurable conclusion, since living standards can be evaluated using income, employment, inflation, access to services, infrastructure and other indicators.
Duke will contest the 2027 presidential election under the Peoples Redemption Party after securing and subsequently being cleared for the party’s presidential ticket earlier this year. (Premium Times Nigeria)
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