Finally, Bayelsa State Deputy Gov. Ewhrudjakpo, Passes On… PDP Mourns

By Ayodele Oni

Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Lawrence Oborawharievwo Ewhrudjakpo, who slumped in the afternoon of Thursday at the Government House, Yenegoa, has been confirmed dead. He was aged 60.

The Deputy Governor, when he slumped in his office after he had held two meetings, was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre  Yenegoa,  Bayelsa State and kept at the Intensive Care Unit.

Earlier reports indicated that he passed on as soon as he arrived the FMC, but it was debunked. He was said to have stabilised by a team of Medical Doctors.

The Governor, Senator Douye Diri is out of the Country, but it was gathered that as soon as he was briefed on the situation,  ordered that an urgent arrangement be made to fly him anywhere in the world for treatment.

It was then, alleged, that an arrangement be made to take him to Port Harcourt from where it was expected he would be flown out of the country.

However, the Deputy Governor allegedly passed on the way to Port Harcourt.

Speculations are rife as to the cause of his death. While same said he collapsed due to a severe asthmatic attack, others said he died of stress. Yet, there are others who say the Deputy Governor’s  problem began when he refused to join his boss, Governor Diri to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the APC. He opted to stay on in the PDP even though there were speculations that he would defect to the African Democratic Congress, ADC. “It increased his stress level, coupled with his work load, it was always going to be fatal”, a mourning aide of his said.

For his refusal to defect to the APC with the Governor, moves were made to impeach him, but he quickly approached a Federal High Court in Abuja to take refuge.

When contacted, the Deputy Governor’s media aide, Doubara Atasi, confirmed the development but declined to give details.

Family sources, however, confirmed to Newsmen that the deputy governor was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at the hospital.

But his Party, the PDP, has confirmed his passing and expressed shock.

Born on September 5, 1965, the late Deputy Governor was a Senator before he quit to contest with Diri as his Deputy. He was first sworn in as Deputy Governor on February 14, 2020, and again for a second term on February 14, 2024.