The Technical Adviser to the Bayelsa State Governor on Communication and Strategy, High Chief Abednego Don Evarada, has criticised former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke over his comments on the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, arguing that difficult terrain should not be used to justify neglecting the Niger Delta.
Evarada made the remarks during an interview on African Independent Television (AIT), where he defended the project and cited road construction in Bayelsa as evidence that infrastructure could be developed across the state’s swampy terrain.
His comments followed Duke’s claim that Works Minister Dave Umahi’s acknowledgement of difficult ground conditions and the redesign of sections of the highway had vindicated his concerns about the project’s feasibility and cost.
Duke, a presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party, had argued that the debate should focus not only on whether the road could be built but also on its financial implications and priority.
“I have been vindicated on the difficult terrain concerns I raised earlier. The minister supervising the project has acknowledged difficult ground conditions and explained why sections had to be redesigned. That is the substance Governor Diri should address,” Duke said in a statement issued through his personal assistant, Emeka Okpragu.
He also questioned why a detour was necessary if the terrain posed no significant engineering challenges.
“If the terrain were as straightforward as his response suggests, why did the minister consider a detour necessary? Why did difficult subsoil conditions become a justification for changing sections of the alignment?” he asked.
Duke had earlier questioned the practicality of constructing the coastal highway through parts of Bayelsa, describing the state as swampy and warning that numerous bridges might be needed.
“You cannot even go through Bayelsa. Bayelsa is swamp. Even Yenagoa, the capital, is swamp. You will probably have to build about 100 or 200 bridges to go through those swamps,” he said.
He also argued that the government should consider repairing existing roads rather than committing resources to a new coastal route.
“There is already a road to Calabar. I’ve driven from Lagos to Calabar several times. If the road is poor, fix it,” Duke said.
However, Evarada argued that Bayelsa’s experience showed that the state’s terrain did not make major infrastructure projects impossible.
Defending the people of the Niger Delta during the AIT interview, he said the region had contributed significantly to the country’s economy through its oil and gas resources but continued to face environmental damage and inadequate infrastructure.
“Forget about what the law says that what is under the ground belongs to the Federal Government. We know by conscience that what is there, whether it’s gas or crude, in Bayelsa State and in Ijawland, belongs to the people, belongs to Bayelsa,” Evarada said.
He acknowledged that the law places mineral resources under federal control but questioned why communities that bear the environmental consequences of oil exploration continued to struggle with development.
“Who is suffering the degradation? Ocean encroachment? Environmental pollution?” he asked.
Evarada also pointed to the infrastructure in Abuja, arguing that revenue from the energy sector had contributed to development outside the Niger Delta.
“Look at the massive infrastructure that’s here in Abuja. Much of that money comes from the energy sector, particularly in Yorubaland, in Bayelsa State,” he said.
The governor’s aide further recalled the violence and loss of lives associated with agitation in the Niger Delta, warning that the grievances of oil-producing communities should not be dismissed.
“Our people at the point couldn’t stand anymore and said we’re going to take up arms and we fought and we agitated. We lost many of our own, even members of the Nigerian security agencies lost their lives,” he said.
Evarada maintained that the region’s difficult terrain should not be used as a reason to abandon development projects.
“The truth be told, over the years, from the beginning of the republic, it was always the excuse and the arguments of leaders in this country that the difficult terrain of the Niger Delta made it impossible to develop that, so everybody abandoned it,” he said.
To support his argument, he cited road construction projects being undertaken by the Bayelsa State Government, including a road towards Brass involving numerous bridges.
“If you get to Bayelsa State, you see the state government driving a road down the Atlantic. I mean, that is demonstrating an uncommon political will that these things are doable,” he said.
Evarada added that the project had involved about 39 bridges, presenting it as an example of how infrastructure could be built across waterways.
“The way they are demystifying that myth is by ensuring that we build bridges on water, we build the roads on the water, we build the hospitals and schools,” he said.
He also lamented the lack of road access in parts of Bayelsa, arguing that the situation reflected years of neglect by successive governments.
“From the creation of the republic to date, the people of Brass never saw road in their lives, and that should be a shame to all leaders in this country,” he said.
Evarada called on the National Security Adviser to examine Duke’s comments, saying the views expressed about the region had caused concern among its residents.
“That’s why we expect even the National Security Adviser to look into these statements and make the right interpretations, the right analysis be made, because our people are angry,” he said.
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