Nigerians were better off under military rule –Donald Duke

Former governor of Cross River State and presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party, Donald Duke, has stated that Nigerians were better off under military rule than they are in the 27 years of democracy. He expressed disappointment that successive civilian administrations since 1999 have not delivered significant improvements in the lives of citizens.

During an interview in Abuja, Duke questioned the costs of governance under the current democratic system and whether it had yielded sufficient benefits for Nigerians.

He argued that the well-being of citizens should be the primary measure of democracy, rather than the existence of democratic institutions. Duke pointed out that many challenges facing the country before the return to civilian rule in 1999 remain unresolved, and some have worsened. He highlighted issues such as the number of children out of school, which has not improved, and the deteriorating healthcare system. Duke also questioned whether the country is better off today than it was in 1999, stating "hardly so."

Duke identified electricity, unemployment, and infrastructure as some of the ongoing challenges that successive civilian governments have failed to adequately address. He expressed concern about the value of citizens' votes, stating that the perceived inability of voters to influence governance has led politicians to disregard the needs of the electorate.

Duke concluded by emphasizing that the problems that existed before 1999, such as electrification and unemployment, are still present and that there is a lack of a structured approach to tackling these issues.