Dare Babalola
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has stated that the relationship between him and his later deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, was that of brothers and friends.
Mourning Ewhrudjakpo who died on Thursday at the age of 60, the governor said their relationship did not reflect a boss and subordinate style, recounting the closeness between them.
Diri led a delegation comprising state legislators and top government officials on a condolence visit to his late deputy’s family at their official residence in Government House, Yenagoa.
He said he did not know how to celebrate the sixth anniversary of his government without his deputy.
“We came a long way from the leadership of the government of my predecessor, Senator Seriake Dickson. We worked together for eight years and now in our own government, we have been together for almost six years.”
“You know what it means when you have a deputy governor who works with you loyally. He was dependable, workaholic and very resourceful.
“We came together as friends and brothers. Our working relationship was not that of a boss and subordinate but it was that of a brother and friend yet recognising that l was his principal.
“Ewhrudjakpo was a man of many parts. He wore the cap of a lawyer and a public health official, who took charge of the committee on primary healthcare. Coincidentally, today (Friday), the state government received a primary healthcare award in Abuja.
“God called him when the ovation was loudest. We believed that we were going to serve together for eight years and we were almost there. Now, how do l celebrate our sixth anniversary in office without Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo?” Diri’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor to have said.
Diri described his deputy as an upright and justice-driven individual who always stood for what was right. He said his passing was a painful and significant loss to the state, and urged the Ewhrudjakpo family and the Ofoni community to find comfort in God’s will, taking pride in the remarkable achievements he accomplished in his impactful, though brief, lifetime.
He pledged that the government would support the family, taking over the sponsorship of the children’s education at any level, and ensure his staff members retain their positions in government.
He equally assured the Ofoni community that their illustrious son, who died in active service, would be given a befitting state burial.
Responding on behalf of the family, one-time member of the state assembly and a former Commissioner for Education, Dr. Oyovwhi Osusu, expressed gratitude to the governor for identifying with the Ewhrudjakpo family and the Ofoni community over the death of the deputy governor.
Dr. Osusu, who said the family and the community were in deep shock over the tragic incident, however attributed it to God’s will and thanked the state government for its support.
The governor was accompanied on the visit by his wife, Dr. Gloria Diri, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere, the Deputy Speaker, Michael Ogbere, House Leader, Monday Obolo-Bubou, and other state legislators.
Also in the entourage were the immediate past deputy governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah (rtd), Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr Peter Akpe, Deputy Chief of Staff, Irorodamie Komonibo, members of the state executive council, President, Ijaw National Congress, Prof Benjamin Okaba, and chairman of the state Peoples Democratic Party, Solomon Agwana, among others.
