- He served US With His Heart- Lokpobi
- His death shocking- PANDEF
Expectedly, the death of a former deputy governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewrudjakpo has continued to elicit reactions from well meaning sons and friends of the state, among them, the managing director of NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, the minister of state, petroleum(oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and the national chairman of PANDEF, Dr Boladei Igali.
Managing Director of NDDC, during his visit to the governor on Tuesday spoke of Ewhrudjakpo’s dedication to duty and service to the state, which he said was phenomenal.
He said: “We are here to condole with you and the state over the passing of your deputy. We came as a team because we have built a strong partnership with the Bayelsa State Government. Over the years, we have built a good relationship with the governors of the Niger Delta States.”
“We were supposed to commission the NDDC 650-bed hostel complex at the Niger Delta University, Ammassoma, today, but because the state is in mourning, we decided to shelve all commissioning plans as a mark of respect for the departed Deputy Governor and the state.”
According to him, the commission was committed to supporting the state government in this mourning period. “We all know the cordial relationship you shared with the late deputy governor. You shared a lot of political experiences as Senators and here in the Government of Bayelsa State,” he said.
Ogbuku noted that the late deputy governor was outstanding in the various places he worked, especially as Commissioner for Works in Bayelsa State, where he played a pivotal role in advancing infrastructure development, and in his distinguished service as Senator representing Bayelsa West in the 9th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He maintained that Ewrudjakpo “consistently demonstrated competence, vision, and an unyielding passion for the progress of his people. His life was defined by service, sacrifice, and a resolute commitment to the common good.”
He urged the governor, the Ewhrudjakpo family, and the people of the state to remain strong and be comforted, as the late deputy governor led a selfless life worthy of emulation
Responding, Diri commended the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, for suspending its scheduled project inauguration as it joins other Nigerians in mourning the death of his deputy.
He gave the commendation during a condolence visit by a delegation from the NDDC, led by the Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, at the Government House, Yenagoa.
The NDDC delegation included the Executive Director Projects, Dr Victor Antai; the Executive Director Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde; the Bayelsa State Representative on the NDDC Board, Senator Dimaro Denyanbofa, and other Directors of the Commission.
Diri said his late deputy was dependable and that the achievements of his administration were due to their harmonious working relationship and acknowledged the show of support from all parts of the country, noting that President Bola Tinubu and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, had phoned him to extend their sympathies.
He noted that the condolence visits underscored the wide respect and admiration for the late Ewhrudjakpo and highlighted the deep sense of loss felt across the state and beyond.
The governor cautioned against the politicisation of Ewhrudjakpo’s death, urging the public to respect the mood of mourning in the state.
Diri appealed to the public to refrain from speculation and instead celebrate the life and service of the late deputy governor, whom he said served Bayelsa State with dedication and commitment.
Lokpobiri who was also in the state to commiserate with the governor said “for those of us from his senatorial district, we are even more pained by his death. We learnt a lot from his proverbs and wisdom. We will miss him. Bayelsa and Nigeria will miss him for his invaluable services to the state and the country. He died a fulfilled man as it is not how long but how well one lived.”
The leadership of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) also paid a condolence visit. Its National Chairman, Dr. Boladei Igali, who led a delegation comprising members of the Board of Trustees and the executive council, equally expressed shock over Ewhrudjakpo’s passing.
He said: “We know that this is a great personal loss to you (governor), considering the working relationship between the two of you, which was the envy of all Nigeria. The images of the way you related with each other are all over in the media in Nigeria.”
According to the PANDEF leader, the late deputy governor played a major role in the progress and development of the state and would be greatly missed.
Responding on behalf of the government and the Ewhrudjakpo family, Diri again thanked President Tinubu for his concern since the passing of his deputy through personal phone call and a condolence message issued by his media adviser, Mr. Bayo Onanuga.
