By John Odhe, YENAGOA
Strong condemnations have have continued to trail a controversial statement by the former Governor of Cross River State and presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, who described the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, as a “local champion”.
The remarks, made during an interview on Arise Television’s The Morning Show, have triggered a wave of public backlash from stakeholders, regional groups, and political figures who view the comment as an unnecessary and disparaging assault on a sitting governor.
The controversy stems from an ongoing debate over the feasibility and financial viability of the multi-trillion naira Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
Duke had initially questioned the project’s necessity, arguing that constructing the highway through the swampy terrain of the Niger Delta was virtually impracticable.
In response, governor Diri rejected Duke’s stance, pointing out that his administration has successfully constructed major roads and bridges across complex swamps and mangroves in Bayelsa.
This prompted Duke to dismiss Diri’s defence as the perspective of a “local champion” who looks at a national project through a narrow regional lens.
Leading the wave of criticism against the former Cross River governor, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide issued a fiery statement condemning Duke’s remarks as an unfortunate display of political arrogance.
The group described Duke as a “frustrated presidential aspirant” and insisted that Governor Diri’s infrastructural achievements transcend such dismissive labeling.
The IYC argued that defending an international-standard infrastructure project that benefits the economic landscape of the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large does not make a leader a local champion.
Adding to the condemnation, former Senator Ben Murray-Bruce strongly faulted Duke’s comments, stating that Diri was speaking as a true statesman rather than a local champion.
In a series of social media posts, Murray-Bruce reminded Duke of their shared travels along the coastline and emphasized that great nations require bold, costly investments.
He stated that Diri simply recognized infrastructure of international standard, concluding that Duke’s attack was driven by political motives related to his presidential ambitions.
Other notable Ijaw sons who have condemned the Duke’s statement include Don Evaradas, an aide to the Bayelsa State governor, former presidential aide on Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku, Niger Delta rights activist, Chief Nengi James-Eriworio amongst others.
The governor’s media team also hit back directly, with Diri’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, stating that Duke is completely out of touch with modern engineering advancements and the rapid development occurring in Bayelsa State.
In a well crafted poetic piece titled “LOCAL CHAMPION?,” Alabrah satirically rubbished Duke’s unguarded statement against the Bayelsa helmsman.
The statement reads: “A local champion is a man who understands his terrain and tames it for the benefit of his people. A local champion is one who inspires others by leading from the front
“I prefer to be a local champion through changing the developmental narrative about my state. I like to be the local champion that builds infrastructure that ensures constant electricity for my people
“The local champion that motivates workers in my state, providing decent and bespoke work environment. ” people’s champion that ensures retirees no longer suffer delayed gratuities after serving the state with their best years
“Why would I not be the local champion that not only builds roads to connect my people in our local communities but also provide free tuition, boarding and feeding in the model schools and science and technical colleges in our state?
“I’ll rather be the local champion that builds hospitals in our riverine communities and ensures affordable healthcare. I’ll be happy to be called a local champion that prioritised security and ensure my people sleep at night with their two eyes closed
“Significantly, a local champion is a man that understands and demystifies governance, shorn of power mongering, humble and peaceful
“However, I don’t want to be an international champion that is boastful, arrogant and proud. It is better to be a local champion than an international figure that lives a Fake Life
“Is it not good to be a local champion that would not leave a legacy of pain and huge debt liabilities for my state and its people?
“I don’t want to be the international champion that neglects my roots because I want to be seen as being cosmopolitan. Charity begins at home. Please call me the Local Champion – the Champion of the People.”
As public discourse intensifies, analysts observe that the rift underscores the deeper political and economic friction surrounding Nigeria’s major infrastructural funding priorities ahead of future general elections.”
