Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has accused former Move River State Governor Donald Duke of political pretence, alleging that his presidential ambition is a bid to protected political “rehabilitation”.
Mr Diri made the allegation whilst responding to Mr Duke’s remarks in regards to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Freeway, escalating their confrontation over the feasibility of making roads and bridges throughout Bayelsa’s swampy terrain.
In a video posted Thursday at the Bayelsa Executive New Media Fb web page, Mr Diri described Mr Duke as a “jester and a pretender”. He accused him of adopting an insulting posture against him as a serving governor all over an look on ARISE Information Tv.
“There’s no councillor from PRP on your personal ward, but you faux to be a presidential candidate in order that on the finish of the day, you’ll be rehabilitated,” Mr Diri mentioned.
Mr Duke is the Peoples Redemption Celebration (PRP) presidential candidate for the 2027 normal elections.
The governor’s remarks adopted Mr Duke’s description of him as a “native champion” all over an interview on ARISE Information, by which the previous governor wondered the feasibility and affordability of the coastal freeway.
Mr Duke argued that the proposed freeway used to be impractical on account of Bayelsa’s swampy terrain and the monetary implications of establishing masses of bridges alongside the course.
However Mr Diri rejected the grievance, insisting that the state’s enjoy in establishing roads and bridges throughout tricky terrain confirmed that the venture used to be achievable.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Diri cited street initiatives in Bayelsa to counter Mr Duke’s declare that the freeway used to be unbuildable during the state.
The governor mentioned he used to be specifically dissatisfied {that a} former governor from the Niger Delta would make remarks he regarded as dismissive of Bayelsa and its other people.
“The previous governor went to ARISE TV. What I noticed there used to be extra of an insult,” Mr Diri mentioned.
He additionally took exception to Mr Duke’s reported commentary that he (Duke) didn’t know him.
“Donald Duke, pay attention me neatly, It’s not that i am ‘that fellow’. I’m an elected, sitting governor of Bayelsa State,” he mentioned.
“When you claimed you don’t know me, I don’t likewise know you.”
Mr Diri argued that Mr Duke, as a former governor, will have to recognize the place of business of a governor irrespective of their private courting.
He additionally disregarded Mr Duke’s description of him as an area champion, announcing his political duty used to be to constitute the pursuits of the individuals who elected him.
“I’m an area champion as a result of this is the place I used to be raised. I used to be elected to serve the area people. I used to be elected to champion their reason,” he mentioned.
The governor later wondered Mr Duke’s report at the Bakassi dispute, which resulted in the switch of the peninsula to Cameroon following a 2002 World Court docket of Justice judgement.
“Donald Duke, let me ask you, you have been in place of business when Bakassi used to be ceded to Cameroon. As a result of you weren’t an area champion, you probably did not anything about it,” Mr Diri mentioned.
He accused the previous governor of failing to shield native pursuits whilst in place of business, contrasting that report along with his personal dedication to protecting Bayelsa and its other people.
Mr Diri mentioned his reaction went past a private confrontation; he noticed it as an assault at the state and its other people.
“I don’t take in other people. It’s not that i am one to insult other people. I don’t insult leaders, I don’t insult elders. However what you have got achieved is not only about me. It’s about my atmosphere; it’s about my other people,” he mentioned.
“I will be able to stand tall always to shield this atmosphere and shield the folks of Bayelsa State.”
Diri misconstrued my remark – Duke
When contacted for his response to Mr Diri’s remarks, Mr Duke instructed PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday that the governor misconstrued his remark.
“I by no means mentioned the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Street used to be no longer fascinating; all I mentioned used to be that, presently, it isn’t financially possible, and Minister Umahi vindicated me by means of mentioning the street is being diverted to enroll in the East -West Freeway for a similar causes I said,” Mr Duke mentioned in a written textual content to our reporter.
“I will perceive him championing the street inside of his neighborhood. That’s completely appropriate. If the street have been ever constructed, I’d be certainly one of its biggest beneficiaries as I reside each in Lagos and Calabar. I used Bayelsa best for instance of the difficult terrain the street should traverse.
“However in truth, I doubted from the outset the street can be constructed. I mentioned it then, and I say it once more: the street, as we understand it, will terminate at Epe, and that’s what has took place.
“And the way did I disrespect his place of business? Through disagreeing with him?” the previous governor mentioned.
Background
The dispute started after Mr Duke wondered the technical and monetary feasibility of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Freeway, a federal govt venture deliberate to traverse 9 coastal states.
Mr Duke argued that Bayelsa’s swampy terrain would make building tricky and costly, and wondered the venture’s precedence amid Nigeria’s competing building wishes.
Mr Diri, then again, mentioned his management had constructed roads and bridges in an identical prerequisites, bringing up initiatives together with the Nembe-Brass Street, the Sagbama-Ekeremor-Agge Street, and the 630-metre bridge throughout River Nun at Angiama in Southern Ijaw Native Executive House.
In a next reaction reported by means of PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Duke maintained that the lifestyles of roads and bridges in Bayelsa didn’t settle questions in regards to the coastal freeway’s value, engineering necessities and financial justification.
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