Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has died.
This was confirmed in a statement on Thursday night by the chairman of the Southern Go ernoes Forum and Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun.
Ewhrudjakpo had reportedly slumped on Thursday afternoon at work in his office, and was immediately rushed to a hospital in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
The statement said that Ewhrudjakpo died at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, where he was rushed to after he slumped on Thursday afternoon.
According to Abiodun, “I received news of the demise of the deputy governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency, Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, with deep sorrow.
“The incident came as a profound shock to all of us, but we submit to the will of the Almighty God, who has chosen to call him home at this time.”
While commiserating with his Bayelsa State counterpart, Duoye Diri, the people of the state and the deputy governor’s family and friends over the incident, he said:
“No doubt, Bayelsa State and Nigeria as a whole have lost a gem, but we shall take comfort in the knowledge that he lived a life of service to humanity and made profound change in the lives of people.”
Also, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has earlier on Thursday night confirmed the death of the deceased who, ntil his passage, was a member of the party.
In a statement on Thursday night, the national spokesperson for the PDP, Ini Ememobong, described the death of the deputy governor as “devastating and an inexplicable loss.”
“This devastating news has left the National Working Committee led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, and indeed the entire membership of our great party, especially our faithful members in Bayelsa State, in profound grief,” Mr Ememobong said.
The PDP spokesperson said Mr Ewhrudjakpo was “a faithful party man” and “consistent politician” who believed in and practised politics with principle.
Mr Ewhrudjakpo chose to remain in the PDP, when his boss, Governor Diri, dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC) last month.
“Mr Ewhrudjakpo’s decision to break with the governor and his camp on the defection fuelled speculations of a plot to remove him from office and replace him with a compliant candidate that will share the same party with the governor.”
Also, the PDP, on Thursday, described Ewhrudjakpo as a hero of political integrity and expressed regrets over his death.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of this hero of political integrity, and we pray that God grants his soul eternal rest,” he stated.
Bayelsa State Government is yet to speak on the death of the deputy governor.
