Nigeria, Oct. 23 -- Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has accused former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke of political pretence, alleging that his presidential ambition is a bid to secure political "rehabilitation".

Mr Diri made the allegation while responding to Mr Duke's remarks about the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, escalating their disagreement over the feasibility of constructing roads and bridges across Bayelsa's swampy terrain.

In a video posted Thursday on the Bayelsa Government New Media Facebook page, Mr Diri described Mr Duke as a "jester and a pretender". He accused him of adopting an insulting posture towards him as a serving governor during an appearance on ARISE News Television.

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