Former President Goodluck Jonathan has described the death of the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, as a painful loss for the state, as Governor Douye Diri ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of his sudden death.
Jonathan spoke on Saturday during a condolence visit to the Bayelsa State Government and the Ewhrudjakpo family at Government House, Yenagoa, where he paid glowing tributes to the late deputy governor, describing him as humble, loyal and exceptionally hardworking.
“For me, he was somebody my foundation and I will never forget. He represented the governor in all our programmes,” Jonathan said.
He added, “Whenever I am having a programme, Bayelsa State is always represented. It is quite a sad moment for all of us.”
The former president recalled how Ewhrudjakpo consistently mobilised members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and the State Executive Council for activities of the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Foundation, including its recent 10th anniversary celebration in Abuja.
Eulogising the late deputy governor, Jonathan said Ewhrudjakpo worked relentlessly, sometimes at the expense of his health.
“I was also a deputy governor, but he worked harder than me. He appeared not to rest. This is even a lesson for all of us to find time to rest,” he said.
Responding, Governor Diri announced that an autopsy had been ordered to medically establish the cause of Ewhrudjakpo’s death, amid widespread speculation following his sudden collapse.
“I have directed that an autopsy be done to reveal the cause of his death,” the governor said.
Diri cautioned politicians and social media users against politicising the incident, urging them instead to honour the memory of a man he said served Bayelsa with total dedication.
“I have seen people politicise his death. In Ijaw land, there is no enmity in death. Let nobody politicise the death of our dearly beloved deputy governor,” he warned.
He added that the state was in a mourning mood, noting that the government had declared three working days of mourning in honour of the late deputy governor.
“If anyone loves him, this is the time to show it,” Diri said, calling on Bayelsans to unite in grief and restraint.
Jonathan and the governor later visited the wife of the late deputy governor, Barrister Beatrice Ewhrudjakpo, at their residence in Government House, as condolences continued to pour in over the passing of the former senator and statesman.
