Gov Diri Pays Tribute to Late Deputy Ewhrudjakpo as INC, NDBDA, Traditional Rulers Pay Condolence Visits

Yenagoa,-Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, on Monday received a series of high-profile delegations condoling with the state government over the sudden demise of his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

The visits, which underscored the late deputy’s widespread influence across political, traditional, and business spheres, came barely three days after Ewhrudjakpo’s passing in Abuja on Friday, December 19, following a brief illness. The 62-year-old Amassoma-born politician, a former Senator for Bayelsa Central and a key architect of the Prosperity Administration, was rushed to the National Hospital from the Senate quarters, where he had been recuperating.

Leading the early delegations were officials from the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), headed by Prince Ebitimi Amgbare, and the Ijaw National Congress (INC), under the leadership of Prof. Benjamin Okaba. Both groups expressed profound grief, describing Ewhrudjakpo as a unifying figure whose contributions to regional development and Ijaw unity would be sorely missed.

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Governor Diri, flanked by top state officials at the Cremation House in Government House, Yenagoa, reciprocated the solidarity, portraying the late deputy as “a dependable partner in the progress and development of Bayelsa State.” He lamented that Ewhrudjakpo’s death had inflicted “a huge blow” on the state’s leadership and aspirations, vowing to immortalize his legacy through sustained projects in education, infrastructure, and youth empowerment—areas where the deputy excelled during his tenure.

The mourning train continued with Bayelsa’s traditional rulers, led by the Chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM King Bubaraye Dakolo, the Pere of Sagbama Kingdom. The monarchs, clad in regal attire, prayed for the repose of Ewhrudjakpo’s soul and urged the governor to uphold the late deputy’s vision of peace and prosperity.

Rounding off the visits was a delegation from the Jampur Group of Companies, spearheaded by Mohammed Shufiq. The business leaders commended Ewhrudjakpo’s pro-investment stance, which had fostered private sector growth in the oil-rich state.

These receptions form part of a flurry of condolence activities since Ewhrudjakpo’s death, which has drawn tributes from President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Ijaw Youth Council leaders. A state burial is expected soon, with flags at half-mast across Bayelsa.

Governor Diri, visibly emotional, reaffirmed his commitment to Bayelsa’s advancement, stating: “We will forge ahead in his honour, turning grief into greater resolve.”