Former Cross River State Governor and presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, Donald Duke, on Saturday accused the Tinubu administration of pursuing economic policies that, rather than ease hardship, leave Nigerians poorer while government benefits financially.

According to Duke, Nigerians are bearing the weight of an economic direction that has failed to deliver relief, and the country cannot afford to keep defending or debating policies that deepen poverty instead of creating growth and better livelihoods.

In a statement, Duke said the exchanges between the Tinubu administration and leading opposition parties had made it clear to him that the President was not prepared to review or change what he described as key anti-people policies.

“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,” he said.

Duke’s criticism centred particularly on the government’s handling of fuel subsidy, which he said had merely replaced one flawed arrangement with another.

“The fuel subsidy scam which had preceded the Tinubu administration has been replaced by the poorly-managed option which makes money for governments and impoverishes citizens and the economy,” Duke said.

He called for a shift from political arguments to practical, carefully considered economic measures capable of addressing the twin challenges of growth and widespread poverty.

“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,” he said.

Duke said the PRP would pursue a different economic direction if elected, with stronger scrutiny of the country’s economic strengths, better-informed policies and greater attention to Nigerians’ livelihoods.

“Under the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), sources of the strength of our economy will be reinforced by imaginative scrutiny, enlightened policies and livelihoods of Nigerians as priorities,” he said.

He also argued that Nigeria needed leadership capable of managing its resources more effectively and turning its assets into genuine economic growth and development.

“Nigerians deserve an administration that will respond to good management and growth and development of our assets,” Duke said. (Saturday Vanguard)