The Presidential Aspirant of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in the 2027 general elections, Engr. Yakubu Mohammed Kingsley (YMK), has disagreed with former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, over his comments on the ongoing Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project of the Federal Government.
Kingsley, in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja, said political differences must not prevent Nigerians from acknowledging the genuine achievements of any government, adding that opposition politics must be founded on constructive criticism, objectivity and alternative solutions, rather than an indiscriminate campaign to run down governments simply because they are in power.
It would be recalled that Duke, who is the presidential candidate of PRP currently recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had, on Tuesday during a TV interview, said the coastal highway project is another case of misplaced priority by the Federal Government.
Duke also claimed that the 750km project — with completed sections already straddling a few kilometres in Cross River and Akwa Ibom on the Calabar end, and making incursions into Ondo from the Lagos end — would not go past Epe near Ogun State.
Responding, Kingsley, who is currently challenging the May 25 primary election of the party that produced the ex-governor as PRP’s presidential candidate before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, said opposition should not mean rejecting every government initiative simply because it was undertaken by an incumbent administration.
According to him, this principle must apply to the PRP itself, saying that, “By virtue of its history and philosophy, the party should not criticise government merely for political expediency.
“Where government policies or projects are wrong, the PRP should identify the problems, explain their consequences and provide credible alternatives. Where government gets something right, the party should have the courage and objectivity to acknowledge it,” he said.
The presidential aspirant, awaiting judgment in his pending case, scheduled for November 2, 2026, said, from his professional perspective as an engineer and highway engineer, he commended the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, particularly from the standpoint of its broad project scoping, strategic corridor alignment and the engineering concept underpinning the development.
He noted that, irrespective of political affiliation, professional engineers and other technical experts should be able to objectively recognise infrastructure projects whose planning and engineering characteristics have the potential to produce enduring national value.
From an engineering perspective, he observed that the coastal highway represents a significant long-term transportation infrastructure intervention, particularly in terms of inter-city and regional connectivity, corridor development, reduction of travel distances and travel time.
He said the significance of such a project should also be assessed beyond the immediate construction activity, taking into consideration its potential contribution to regional spatial planning, economic integration, industrial development, tourism, logistics and the creation of new economic corridors along Nigeria’s coastline.
Engr. Kingsley, therefore, called on all PRP aspirants and candidates contesting for the offices of governor, senator, member of the House of Representatives and member of the state house of assembly to conduct their campaigns on issues and clearly explain what they intend to do differently if elected.
“Rather than spending their campaigns merely attacking incumbent governments, PRP candidates should demonstrate how their programmes will improve security, education, healthcare, agriculture, employment, infrastructure, industrialisation, social welfare and the overall wellbeing of citizens within their respective jurisdictions.”
