Diri Challenges Umahi Over Coastal Highway, Fires Back at Donald Duke
- Bayelsa governor insists coastal highway must remain separate from East-West Road, describes former Cross River governor as a ‘jester’ and ‘pretender’
By Jonah Fubara, YENAGOA – Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has disclosed a disagreement with the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, over the proposed realignment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway with the East-West Road, insisting that both projects must proceed independently.
Diri, who said the South-South governors were unanimous in their support for the coastal highway, also launched a scathing attack on former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke over his criticism of the project’s feasibility, particularly in Bayelsa’s swampy terrain.
The governor spoke on Thursday during the 200th session of the Bayelsa State Executive Council at Government House, Yenagoa, according to a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah.
Diri explained that he had personally contacted Umahi to express his opposition to the proposed realignment, arguing that reconstructing the East-West Road should not be used as a substitute for the coastal highway.
“I privately called the Minister of Works and said, ‘Honourable Minister, that is a no, no, no for us. These are two different projects,’” the governor said.
He acknowledged the need to reconstruct the East-West Road but maintained that the coastal highway remained a separate and equally important infrastructure project for the region.
“While you reconstruct the East-West Road, the coastal road must continue because you have already won the hearts of all the coastal states,” he said.
According to Diri, the disagreement with Umahi reached a point where he insisted that the minister should communicate the South-South governors’ position to President Bola Tinubu.
The governor, who also chairs the South-South Governors’ Forum, said the region’s position was that the coastal highway must proceed as planned.
Diri’s comments followed criticism of the project by Duke, who reportedly questioned its feasibility, citing Bayelsa’s swampy landscape and the potential need to construct between 100 and 200 bridges for the highway to pass through the state.
The Bayelsa governor said he was particularly disappointed that a former governor from the South-South would use the state’s geographical challenges to argue against the project.
He maintained that Bayelsa’s terrain should not be an excuse to deny the state and other coastal communities the infrastructure needed to stimulate development.
In a sharp response to Duke, Diri described the former governor as a “jester” and “pretender,” questioning his political relevance and accusing him of failing to adequately defend local interests during his time in office.
Diri also criticised Duke over the establishment of Tinapa, the tourism and business resort developed during his administration, alleging that loans and debts incurred for the project placed a substantial financial burden on Cross River State and successive governments.
He further faulted Duke over the ceding of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon during his tenure, arguing that the former governor had failed to demonstrate the kind of local advocacy he now appeared to demand from others.
“You can continue to be your national and international champion without a nucleus, without a base,” Diri said.
The governor’s remarks followed Duke’s reported reference to him as “that fellow” during a television discussion on the coastal highway.
Responding to the description, Diri emphasised that he was the democratically elected governor of Bayelsa State and expressed surprise that a former governor would speak about a serving colleague in such terms.
Although he said he was not accustomed to publicly insulting people, Diri insisted that the dispute went beyond personal differences to the development interests of Bayelsa and its people.
“I am not one of those who insult people. I do not insult leaders or elders. But what you have done is not just about me. It is about my environment and my people. I will always stand tall to defend this environment and the people of Bayelsa State,” he said.
Diri challenged Duke to visit Bayelsa and see the roads and bridges being constructed by his administration despite the state’s difficult terrain and limited financial resources.
He rejected what he described as the persistent narrative that Bayelsa could not be developed because of its swampy environment, arguing that the state had demonstrated that infrastructure development was possible.
“Enough of this narrative that the Bayelsa environment cannot be developed. Oil and gas resources can be taken away from our land, but the land itself cannot be developed? That is a fat lie from the pit of hell, and we reject it,” he declared.
The governor also recalled that Bayelsa’s natural resources had contributed significantly to the Nigerian economy, questioning why the state should be denied major infrastructure investments because of its geographical characteristics.
Despite his disagreement with Umahi over the proposed realignment, Diri praised President Tinubu for initiating the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, describing it as a significant infrastructure project for coastal communities, the Niger Delta and the Ijaw nation.
He recalled that the construction of the coastal road had long featured among the demands of the Ijaw National Congress, including during the military era.
Diri said the project was among the issues that influenced the political decisions of some leaders in the region, adding that its implementation would help address the longstanding marginalisation of coastal communities.
“The very thought of it alone — that these coastal people should not continue to wallow in poverty and be dehumanised, and that they should not be seen as second-class citizens of this country — is commendable,” he said.
He argued that coastal communities deserved the same level of infrastructure development enjoyed in other parts of the country, insisting that the highway would improve connectivity and create opportunities for economic growth.
“If we can have roads in the North and other parts of the country, then the coastal road should also be built. The very idea of it is a big plus for Mr President and his administration. I welcome it with both hands,” Diri added.
