The presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, has called for the decentralisation of Nigeria’s security architecture, saying state policing, stronger intelligence gathering and an effective judicial system are essential to addressing the country’s worsening insecurity.
Speaking in an interview on ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Duke argued that security, like healthcare, education and water supply, must be managed at the local level to deliver meaningful results.
“The same thing with security: you’ve got to localize it,” he said.
The former Cross River governor said Nigeria should have embraced state policing years ago, adding that decentralising security would improve response to local threats.
Addressing concerns over possible abuse of state police by governors, Duke said an independent judiciary would provide the necessary checks and ensure accountability.
“You need a judicial system that works so that it can curb the excesses. You can’t do one without the other,” he said.
Duke noted that insecurity had negatively affected agriculture and economic activities, stressing that the primary responsibility of government was to guarantee the safety of lives and property.
“The basic function of government is to ensure the productivity of its citizens within a safe and orderly environment.
“You must be able to move through the length and breadth of this country without harassment,” he said.
He lamented the country’s deteriorating security situation, saying Nigerians could no longer travel freely without fear.
On corruption, the PRP flag bearer attributed its persistence to the absence of consequences for wrongdoing.
“The moment you instill consequences into your governance system, there will still be corruption, but it will be severely mitigated,” he said.
Duke also criticised Nigeria’s electoral process, saying elections were increasingly determined by financial influence and political structures rather than ideas and competence.
“Nigeria has become a country where elections are won less by ideas than by structures,” he said.
He urged opposition parties to put aside personal ambitions and unite to provide Nigerians with a credible alternative.
According to him, a divided opposition would struggle to unseat the ruling party.
“Our common objective is unseating the APC. You’re not going to do it with a fractured opposition,” he said.
Despite the challenges facing his presidential ambition, Duke said he remained committed to staying in the race, expressing confidence that his experience and track record would earn the confidence of Nigerians.
He dismissed the legal challenge against his emergence as the PRP presidential candidate as lacking merit, insisting he had the full backing of his party.
Duke urged Nigerians to evaluate political aspirants based on their records of performance rather than campaign promises alone.
“You’ve got to look at the track record of those who put themselves forward. That is what I am selling: the proven ability to get things done.”
