‘Local champion’ - Donald Duke replies Gov Diri over Lagos-Calabar coastal road
Presidential Candidate Critiques Bayelsa Governor Following Highway Controversy
Donald Duke, the presidential candidate for the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), labeled Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri a “local champion” in response to criticism regarding his stance on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
During an interview on Arise Television’s The Morning Show on Thursday, Duke, a former governor of Cross River State, reaffirmed his belief that the construction of the coastal road was not feasible due to high costs and the challenging terrain it would cross. This assertion prompted Diri’s disapproval, who argued that Duke’s perspective failed to account for advancements in infrastructure within Bayelsa.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, Diri expressed disappointment in Duke’s claims regarding the impracticality of the highway’s construction through the swampy regions of the state. “Clearly, he is not abreast of current developments in road construction and infrastructure development in our state,” Diri stated.
Duke responded by suggesting that the governor’s comments reflected a narrow viewpoint focused on regional concerns rather than the broader implications for Nigeria. “If the governor of Bayelsa did say so, I think he’s just being a local champion,” Duke remarked.
Duke emphasized his identity as a Nigerian, asserting that his southern roots did not limit his perspective. “I’m from the South-South. I’m a Nigerian. South-South just happens to be where I originated from. But I’m looking at the totality of Nigeria,” he said.
He further critiqued the financial viability of the project, claiming that the government was already heavily reliant on borrowing to fund existing infrastructure. “It’s just not feasible. We don’t have the kind of money to do it. We’re literally borrowing to even stretch Epe stretch,” Duke stated.
Additionally, Duke questioned the rationale behind diverting a segment of the highway to connect with the East-West Road, asking if such considerations had been made from the project’s inception. “Weren’t they aware of the East-West Highway from the get-go?” he queried.
