“A Fat Lie From The Pit Of Hell!” — Diri Explodes, Calls Donald Duke A “Jester” And Defends Bayelsa’s Swamps In Explosive Niger Delta Showdown

By Passman Akpos

YENAGOA, BAYELSA STATE — Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has revealed that he disagreed with the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, over reported plans to realign the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway with the existing East-West Road, insisting that both projects must proceed independently.

Diri also launched a scathing attack on former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke, describing him as a “jester,” a “pretender,” and a politician who, according to him, lacks a political base.

The governor maintained that the proposed coastal highway was too important to the economic development of the Niger Delta and the South-South region to be abandoned or merged with another road project.

He made the revelations 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 Reveals Private Disagreement With Umahi

Explaining his disagreement with Umahi, Diri said he personally contacted the Minister of Works after reading reports suggesting that the coastal highway could be realigned and merged with the East-West Road.

The governor said he rejected the proposal because the two roads serve different purposes and should be treated as separate infrastructure projects.

“I privately called the Minister of Works and said, ‘Honourable Minister, that is a no, no, no for us. These are two different projects,’” Diri said.

He acknowledged that the East-West Road requires reconstruction but argued that its rehabilitation should not come at the expense of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

“I agree with you that the East-West Road should be reconstructed. It is called the East-West Road, but its reconstruction should not take the place of the coastal road.

“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 stated.

According to Diri, the discussion eventually resulted in a disagreement between him and the minister.

The governor said he made it clear that Bayelsa State would insist on the continuation of the coastal highway, adding that he spoke not only as the governor of Bayelsa but also as chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum.

“I told him that, for me and my state, the coastal road must continue,” he said.

Diri further maintained that the position he communicated to Umahi reflected the collective stance of South-South governors in support of the coastal highway and opposition to its proposed merger with the East-West Road.

However, the governor’s account of the disagreement and his description of the governors’ collective position were not accompanied by an independent statement from Umahi or the other South-South governors in the material available for this report.

Diri Fires Back At Donald Duke

The disagreement over the highway took a more personal turn when Diri addressed comments reportedly made by Duke during a television programme.

The former Cross River governor had questioned the feasibility of the coastal highway, reportedly using Bayelsa’s swampy terrain as an example of the engineering difficulties that could arise from constructing the road through the state.

Diri said he was particularly offended that a former governor from the South-South region would use Bayelsa’s geographical conditions to argue against the feasibility of the project.

According to him, Duke suggested that constructing the highway through Bayelsa could require between 100 and 200 bridges because of the state’s swampy environment.

The Bayelsa governor rejected the argument, insisting that the state’s terrain should not be used as a reason to deny its people access to major infrastructure.

He subsequently described Duke as a pretender and questioned his political relevance, referring to his reported candidacy for president under the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).

“You pretend to be a presidential candidate of PRP. There is not even a councillor from PRP in Cross River. Not even in your own ward. Yet, you pretend to be a presidential candidate so that at the end of the day you can be rehabilitated,” Diri said.

He added: “You can continue to be your national and international champion without a nucleus, without a base.”

Diri also urged the former governor to address what he described as debts inherited by successive Cross River State administrations following Duke’s tenure.

The governor specifically criticised the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort project, which was developed during Duke’s administration, arguing that the financial obligations associated with the project placed a burden on the state.

“Above all, Donald Duke, you embarked on a white-elephant called Tinapa. You took loans and incurred debts that you placed a huge burden on the people of Cross River State and every governor and government that succeeded you,” Diri stated.

His comments added a fresh dimension to the disagreement, shifting the debate from the technical and economic feasibility of the coastal highway to the political records of two former and current governors from the Niger Delta region.

Duke’s response to Diri’s latest remarks was not included in the statement from the Bayelsa Government.

‘I Am The Sitting Governor Of Bayelsa State’

Diri also took exception to Duke’s reported reference to him as “that fellow,” saying the description was disrespectful to an elected governor and, by extension, the people he represents.

The Bayelsa governor said he did not expect Duke to know him personally but insisted that disagreements over public policy should not become an excuse for what he considered disrespectful language.

“Donald Duke, I am not that fellow. I am the sitting governor of Bayelsa State,” Diri declared.

He added that he was surprised that such comments came from a former governor of a neighbouring Niger Delta state, who, in his view, should understand the importance of respecting the office of a sitting governor.

Diri, however, acknowledged that he was not ordinarily inclined to engage in public exchanges or trade insults with political figures.

He said his response was driven by what he considered an attempt to portray Bayelsa’s environment as unsuitable for development.

“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.

Bayelsa’s Swampy Terrain Is Not A Barrier To Development — Diri

The governor insisted that Bayelsa’s geographical conditions should not be used to justify excluding the state from major infrastructure projects.

He argued that his administration had demonstrated that roads and bridges could be constructed in difficult terrain despite the state’s limited financial resources.

“With our limited resources as a state government, we are building bridges and roads in the same swamp that he says cannot be developed. We are inviting him to come to Bayelsa since he has used our state as an example,” Diri said.

He also argued that the same Niger Delta environment that some people describe as difficult to develop had contributed significantly to Nigeria’s economic survival through its oil and gas resources.

The governor said it was contradictory for the country to extract petroleum wealth from the region while treating its geographical challenges as an obstacle to providing adequate infrastructure for its people.

“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.

Diri’s remarks underscore a longstanding grievance in parts of the Niger Delta: that the region’s natural resources have contributed substantially to national revenue without a corresponding level of infrastructure development in many oil-producing communities.

Nevertheless, the precise engineering requirements, environmental implications and cost of constructing the coastal highway through Bayelsa would need to be assessed through technical studies rather than political arguments alone.

Why The Coastal Highway Matters To The Niger Delta

Diri described the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as a major infrastructure project with potential benefits for coastal communities across southern Nigeria.

He said the project was particularly important to Bayelsa and the Ijaw people, arguing that the construction of a coastal road had been a longstanding demand of the Ijaw National Congress (INC).

According to the governor, the demand dates back to the military era and formed part of the concerns he presented in a document containing the demands of the Ijaw people around the period he referred to as the transition of some political figures from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Diri praised President Bola Tinubu for supporting the project, describing the idea of connecting coastal communities through major road infrastructure as a significant step towards addressing regional development challenges.

“The coastal road is a very important, relevant and impactful project for every state along the coastline, particularly for us in the South-South and Bayelsa State,” he said.

The governor added that the project could help challenge the perception that communities in the coastal Niger Delta should remain economically disadvantaged because of their difficult terrain.

“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 stated.

The Bigger Questions: What Is The Final Plan For The Highway?

Beyond the exchange between Diri and Duke, the disagreement raises important questions about the future of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the infrastructure priorities of the South-South region.

First, Nigerians need clear information about whether any formal decision has been made to realign the coastal highway with the East-West Road or whether the reported proposal was still under consideration.

Second, the Federal Government and the Ministry of Works need to explain how the coastal highway and the East-West Road will be coordinated, including their respective routes, budgets, construction timelines and intended benefits.

Third, the engineering challenges associated with constructing the highway through swampy and environmentally sensitive areas require transparent technical explanations. Such challenges should be evaluated against the potential economic benefits, financial costs and environmental consequences.

Fourth, the South-South governors’ reported collective position should be made clear to the public, including whether the governors have formally communicated their position to the Federal Government.

Finally, the Federal Government must explain how the project will improve connectivity, trade, employment and access to markets for communities along the coastal corridor, including those in Bayelsa State.

These are questions that require clear answers from the relevant authorities, regardless of the political disagreements surrounding the project.

Conclusion: Infrastructure Debate Should Go Beyond Political Exchanges

Governor Diri’s comments have brought renewed attention to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the competing views about how best to connect Nigeria’s coastal communities.

His disagreement with Umahi centres on whether the coastal highway should remain a distinct project alongside the East-West Road, while his dispute with Duke highlights a broader debate about the feasibility of infrastructure development in Bayelsa’s difficult terrain.

However, the ultimate test of the project will not be the strength of political statements or personal exchanges between public figures.

It will be whether the Federal Government can provide transparent plans, credible engineering assessments, responsible financial management and measurable benefits for the communities the highway is intended to serve.

For Bayelsa and the wider Niger Delta, the critical question remains whether the coastal highway will translate into improved connectivity and economic opportunities or become another infrastructure promise whose implementation and benefits remain uncertain.

Tarakirivoice Newspaper will continue to follow developments surrounding the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the position of the South-South governors and the implications of the project for the people of the Niger Delta.