The Niger Delta Development Monitoring Group (NIDDEMOG) has condemned former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke’s description of Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri as a “local champion,” demanding a retraction of the remark and an apology to the Bayelsa governor.
The group’s Team Lead, Chief Nengi James-Eriworio, Officer of the Order of the Niger, OON, described the comment as unfair and disappointing, arguing that personal attacks and derogatory language would not advance the development of the Niger Delta.
Chief Nengi James, who spoke against the backdrop of the controversy surrounding the proposed Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, said Duke, having governed a state in the region and served in regional development initiatives, should be more concerned about the challenges confronting coastal communities than engaging in verbal exchanges with a fellow governor.
He said the proposed coastal road addressed a longstanding infrastructure need in the Niger Delta and should not be dismissed on political grounds, insisting that the region deserved major investments in roads and bridges because of its contribution to Nigeria’s oil revenue.
According to him, the coastal road concept is not new to the region, having featured in earlier regional development plans and demands by traditional rulers in Bayelsa State.
“Coastal road development was part of the initiative adopted under the Niger Delta Regional Plan. It is not new to Bayelsa State or the Niger Delta,” he said.
Chief Nengi James recalled that in 1998 or 1999, when representatives of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company visited Bayelsa State to ask traditional rulers what development project they wanted, the monarchs collectively requested a coastal ring road.
He said the proposal had remained relevant because of the difficult terrain of the Niger Delta, where communities are separated by rivers, creeks, mangrove forests and extensive wetlands.
The NIDDEMOG leader maintained that the region needed a network of roads and bridges capable of connecting its coastal communities, improving access to markets and public services, and opening up areas that had remained difficult to reach.
He cited road projects linking parts of the Niger Delta to the Atlantic coastline, including routes around Agge and Brass in Bayelsa State, as evidence that road infrastructure could be developed in challenging coastal environments.
He also referred to road and bridge connections in the Bonny and Opobo axis of Rivers State, arguing that the region’s terrain should not be used as a reason to discount the feasibility of further infrastructure development.
Chief Nengi James said the federal government should also address the poor state of existing roads, particularly the East-West Road, while pursuing new projects such as the coastal highway.
“We are not against the coastal road. I am one of those who advocated for it even before the Federal Government proposed the project. What we are saying is that the East-West Road and other failing roads in the region must also receive the attention they deserve,” he said.
He argued that even if the coastal road had political considerations, its potential benefits to the people should remain the priority.
“If a project is proposed to connect communities across the coastal states, we should look at what it will deliver to the people. Even if it is politically motivated, it is the people of the Niger Delta who need the road, including those criticising it. He is acting as an EDUCATED ILITERATE for not understanding the region’s terrain and development needs and challenges” he said.
The NIDDEMOG leader questioned Duke’s choice of words against Diri, saying the Bayelsa governor had a longstanding connection with the Niger Delta’s development struggles and understood the challenges of its riverine and coastal communities.
He also cited road construction in Bayelsa, including routes towards the Atlantic coastline, as evidence that infrastructure development in difficult terrain was possible.
According to him, the Niger Delta’s development challenges require experience and visionary leaders like Senator Diri in public office to engage in constructive discussions on infrastructure, coastal erosion, ocean encroachment and the economic difficulties facing their people.
Chief Nengi James urged Duke to retract the “local champion” remark and apologise to Diri, while calling on both leaders to avoid personal attacks and focus on issues affecting the region.
“We are the same Niger Delta people. The development of the region should be the overall interests of our leaders. The future of the Niger Delta can be brighter if our leaders focus on development rather than exchanging insults,” he said.
He added that the proposed coastal road should be implemented in a manner that ensures participating states benefit fairly from the project, stressing that communities in the oil-producing region deserved infrastructure commensurate with their contribution to the national economy.
