Governors across Nigeria’s southern region have expressed deep sorrow over the sudden death of the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who reportedly collapsed in his office on Thursday.
In a condolence message released in Abeokuta, Ogun State Governor and Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, Prince Dapo Abiodun, said the news came as a rude shock, describing the tragedy as “particularly painful.”
Governor Abiodun praised the late deputy governor as a committed public servant who discharged his duties with dedication and loyalty.
“I received news of the demise of the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency, Mr. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, with deep sorrow,” he said.
“His passing is devastating, especially for Governor Douye Diri, who has lost a dependable ally.”
He extended condolences to the people and government of Bayelsa State and prayed for strength and comfort for the bereaved family.
Governor Abiodun added that Ewhrudjakpo would be remembered for his devotion to public service, noting that his contributions would leave a lasting impact on governance in Bayelsa and Nigeria.
The Bayelsa State Government has yet to issue an official statement, but early reports indicated that the deputy governor collapsed around 1:30 p.m. while carrying out official duties. He was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Yenagoa, where he was first attended to at the emergency unit before being moved to the Intensive Care Unit.
A media aide, Mr. Doubara Atasi, earlier confirmed that the deputy governor was in critical condition, though the cause of the collapse was not immediately known. Sources within Government House suggested that he had been under intense work pressure in recent weeks.
A witness who saw his convoy arrive at the hospital described the situation as tense, saying, “It’s true. I saw how fast they drove in. It is well with him.”
Born on 5 September 1965, Senator Ewhrudjakpo had served as Bayelsa State’s deputy governor since 2019. His educational journey spanned several disciplines including community health, secretarial administration, business administration, and law and culminated in a PhD in Human Rights and Labour Law awarded in December 2023.
Before becoming deputy governor, he served as Commissioner for Works under Governor Seriake Dickson and later represented Bayelsa West in the Senate. His political career was marked by loyalty and principle, even when he chose to remain in the PDP after Governor Diri defected to the APC.
PDP: “An Inexplicable Loss, Indescribable Pain”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has also mourned Ewhrudjakpo’s death, describing it as an “inexplicable loss” and a source of “indescribable pain.”
National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Comrade Ini Ememobong, said the party was deeply shaken by the news.
He described the late deputy governor as a steadfast politician whose life was built on conviction and integrity.
“He believed in politics of principle, not convenience. He held firmly to his values until his last moments,” Ememobong said.
The party extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, the government of Bayelsa State, and all who were touched by Ewhrudjakpo’s life and service.
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