Donald Duke: He Called A Sitting Gov A Local Champion & That Is Very Terrible And Unfortunate–Umahi

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has dismissed allegations that the Federal Government unlawfully acquired land for the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, insisting that the project does not constitute land grabbing.

According to a report by Daily Post on Friday, October 23, 2026, Umahi made the clarification while responding to criticism of the coastal highway project by former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke.

Speaking during an interview with Arise Television aired on Friday, the minister defended the Federal Government’s decision to embark on the project, maintaining that the allegations of unlawful land acquisition were unfounded.

Umahi also criticised Duke over his remarks concerning a sitting governor, describing the comments as inappropriate and unfortunate.

The minister expressed displeasure with Duke’s description of the serving governor as a “local champion,” arguing that such remarks were disrespectful to a sitting state leader.

“He called a sitting governor a local champion and that is very terrible and unfortunate,” Umahi said.

Beyond the controversy surrounding the coastal highway, the minister challenged Duke’s criticism of government-funded infrastructure projects, citing the Tinapa business and leisure resort in Cross River State as an example.

According to Umahi, the current state of the resort raises questions about the effectiveness of projects initiated by previous administrations and whether they have fulfilled their intended objectives.

“When we talk about bogus projects we should be talking about Tinapa, is it functioning? It’s not functioning, but you borrowed money from the state, which one is land grabbing?” he asked.

Umahi’s comments suggested that public scrutiny of infrastructure projects should extend beyond the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to include an assessment of earlier investments financed with public funds.

He also questioned why the borrowing associated with the Tinapa project had not attracted the same level of criticism, using the resort to challenge Duke’s characterisation of the coastal highway as an example of land grabbing.

The minister maintained that allegations of mismanagement and the misuse of public resources should be examined alongside the performance and outcomes of projects undertaken by previous administrations.

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a major Federal Government infrastructure project, has attracted public debate over its implementation, land acquisition and financial implications.

Umahi, however, maintained that the allegations against the coastal highway should be subjected to proper scrutiny rather than accepted without examining the facts surrounding the project.

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