Fubara Mourns Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Vows Unwavering Support for Diri

Yenagoa—Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has extended heartfelt condolences to Bayelsa State over the death of its Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, declaring that Rivers people share deeply in Bayelsa’s grief.

Fubara led a high-powered delegation on a condolence visit to his Bayelsa counterpart, Senator Douye Diri, at Government House in Yenagoa on Sunday. The gesture underscored the unbreakable bond between the two Niger Delta states, with Fubara noting that events in Bayelsa inevitably ripple into Rivers.

“Rivers and Bayelsa remain one people,” Fubara stated. “While you grieve in Bayelsa, our state grieves alongside you. Our story in Rivers cannot be complete without aspects of Bayelsa. It is only fitting that we condole with the government, the people, and the family of the late deputy governor.”

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He assured Diri of Rivers’ full support, adding, “No words or visits can fill the void left by a loved one’s passing—only God can do that.”

Senator Ewhrudjakpo, 57, passed away on December 11, 2025, after a brief illness. A seasoned PDP politician, he had served as Senator for Bayelsa Central (2015–2019) and played key roles in the party’s Niger Delta campaigns before becoming deputy governor in 2020.

In response, Governor Diri hailed Fubara as the first governor to visit since the tragedy, calling it a profound demonstration of unity. “This gesture comforts the government, our people, and the Ewhrudjakpo family. It honors our shared history,” Diri said.

The Bayelsa leader highlighted ongoing collaboration, including their quiet resolution of the long-standing Soku oil well dispute—a revenue-sharing conflict dating back over a decade, settled amicably in 2024 under their administrations. “Rivers and Bayelsa cannot afford loggerheads, especially as PDP brothers. We will resolve any issues in our peoples’ interest,” Diri affirmed.

Both governors later visited the late deputy’s official residence to console his wife, Barrister Beatrice Ewhrudjakpo, and family.

The visit reflects deepening ties between the PDP-led states amid Niger Delta challenges like resource disputes and infrastructure needs. Fubara and Diri, both elected in 2023, have prioritized brotherly cooperation, contrasting with past inter-state frictions.