Tinubu’s fuel policy enriches govt, impoverishes masses, Donald Duke

Former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke has accused the current Nigerian administration of implementing economic policies that benefit the government financially at the expense of its citizens.

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The fuel subsidy scam which had preceded the Tinubu administration has been replaced by the poorly-managed option which makes money for governments and impoverishes citizens and the economy.

Duke, a presidential candidate for the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), stated that Nigerians are enduring economic hardship due to policies that have failed to provide relief. He argued that the country cannot continue to defend or debate measures that deepen poverty rather than fostering growth and improving livelihoods.

In a statement, Duke expressed his view that the ongoing exchanges between the Tinubu administration and opposition parties indicate a lack of willingness to review or change what he described as "anti-people policies." He specifically targeted the handling of fuel subsidies, asserting that the current system merely replaced a flawed arrangement with a poorly managed one that enriches the government while impoverishing citizens and the economy.

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The ongoing exchanges between the Tinubu administration and the leading opposition parties is clear evidence that President Tinubu has no plans to review or change key anti-people policies that have become the hallmarks of his administration.

Duke urged a shift from political debates to practical, well-considered economic strategies capable of tackling both growth and widespread poverty. He proposed that the PRP, if elected, would pursue a different economic direction, emphasizing stronger scrutiny of the nation's economic strengths, more informed policies, and prioritizing the livelihoods of Nigerians. He stressed the need for leadership that can effectively manage resources and transform assets into genuine economic growth and development.

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The nation must move beyond debates and adopt well-informed and strategically-designed options to the current economic policies can both address growth and alleviate crushing levels of poverty.