“Must Bayelsa Be Punished For Its Geography?” — “You Cannot Disrespect Diri And Expect Ijaw People To Keep Quiet!” — Ikuli Fires Back At Donald Duke As ‘Local Champion’ Remark Ignites Fresh Niger Delta Political Firestorm

By Passman Akpos

Former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke has come under criticism following his description of Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri as a “local champion” amid the controversy surrounding the proposed Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and its feasibility through the Niger Delta.

Chief (Hon.) Wisdom Oniekpar Ikuli, JP, has condemned Duke’s remark, describing it as disrespectful, irresponsible and unbecoming of a former governor. He has called on the former Cross River governor to apologise to Diri and the people of Bayelsa State.

The controversy follows Duke’s appearance on ARISE Television’s The Morning Show on Thursday, October 15, 2026, during which he questioned Diri’s position on the coastal highway project.

Duke reportedly said: “And the governor of Bayelsa, if he did say so, I don’t know the fellow, but if he did say so, I think he’s just being a local champion.”

The former governor argued that Diri was approaching the debate from a regional perspective rather than considering the financial implications of the project for the country as a whole.

He also raised concerns about the highway’s cost, the engineering challenges posed by the terrain and Nigeria’s reliance on borrowing to finance major infrastructure projects.

However, his choice of words has triggered a fresh political debate over respect for public office, regional development and the treatment of the Niger Delta’s infrastructure needs.

Ikuli Accuses Duke Of Disrespecting Bayelsa And The Ijaw Nation

Reacting to the development, Ikuli argued that Duke’s description of Diri was inappropriate, particularly given the Bayelsa governor’s political position and standing among the Ijaw people.

According to him, any perceived disrespect towards Diri could be interpreted by sections of the Ijaw community as a slight against the people he represents.

Ikuli maintained that Diri’s position on the coastal highway should be assessed on its merits rather than dismissed as an attempt to promote narrow regional interests.

He also stressed that public officials and former political leaders should engage in constructive debate over national infrastructure projects without resorting to language that could inflame regional tensions.

Bayelsa’s Swampy Terrain Is Not An Impossible Barrier, Ikuli Argues

At the centre of the disagreement is whether the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway can be constructed through Bayelsa State’s swampy and mangrove terrain.

Duke had questioned the practicality and financial sustainability of routing the project through the state, citing the engineering difficulties and cost implications.

Diri, through his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, had challenged that position, arguing that Duke was not adequately familiar with the state’s infrastructure development and the experience gained from constructing roads and bridges across difficult terrain.

Ikuli aligned himself with the governor’s position, arguing that the geographical challenges facing Bayelsa should not automatically be treated as grounds for excluding the state from major infrastructure projects.

He pointed to the construction of roads, bridges and other infrastructure in challenging environments as evidence that difficult terrain does not necessarily make development impossible.

The disagreement has raised broader questions about whether engineering assessments, cost-benefit analyses and regional development priorities are receiving sufficient consideration in discussions about the coastal highway.

Ikuli Questions Duke’s Assessment Of Diri’s Leadership

Ikuli also used the controversy to question Duke’s assessment of Diri’s leadership, contrasting their respective records in office.

He praised Diri’s administration for what he described as efforts to reform, transform and reposition Bayelsa State for socioeconomic and political development.

He further claimed that Diri had pursued development without borrowing, contrasting this with what he characterised as Duke’s reliance on costly projects that left Cross River State with substantial financial obligations.

These assertions reflect Ikuli’s assessment of the two administrations. A comprehensive comparison would require an examination of their respective budgets, debt profiles, completed projects, revenue sources and measurable development outcomes.

Ikuli also attributed insecurity, unemployment, poverty and migration in Cross River State to the legacy of Duke’s administration.

However, these allegations were not accompanied by supporting statistical evidence in his statement, and the causes of the challenges facing Cross River State would require a broader assessment of successive administrations and other socioeconomic factors.

Debate Over Coastal Highway Extends Beyond Personalities

The controversy has grown beyond the exchange between Duke and Diri, bringing renewed attention to the financial, engineering and regional development questions surrounding the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway.

Supporters of the project’s extension through the Niger Delta argue that the region deserves improved road connectivity, economic opportunities and infrastructure that addresses its longstanding development challenges.

Critics, meanwhile, have raised concerns about the project’s cost, the country’s borrowing obligations and the technical difficulties associated with constructing roads across waterways, mangroves and swampy areas.

The central question is whether the proposed route through Bayelsa can be justified on engineering, economic and public-interest grounds.

Resolving that question requires transparent project cost estimates, technical feasibility assessments, environmental considerations and clear explanations of the expected benefits to affected communities.

The debate also highlights the need to distinguish legitimate criticism of government infrastructure decisions from language that may be perceived as dismissive of an entire state or region.

Ikuli Demands Public Apology From Former Governor

Concluding his statement, Ikuli urged Duke to set aside what he described as unnecessary pride and ego and formally apologise to Diri and the people of Bayelsa State.

He argued that political disagreements over infrastructure and national spending should be handled with restraint, mutual respect and a recognition of the responsibilities attached to public leadership.

The demand for an apology has added another dimension to the controversy, which continues to centre on the feasibility of the coastal highway, the cost of major infrastructure projects and the place of the Niger Delta in Nigeria’s development priorities.

As the debate unfolds, attention will remain on whether the federal government can provide sufficient technical and financial justification for the proposed route and whether the political leaders involved can move the discussion beyond personal exchanges to the substantive issues affecting the region.