Bayelsa PDP backs Diri’s autopsy order on late dep gov

File Copy: Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Mr Lawrence. Ewhrudjakpo

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The Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has backed Governor Douye Diri’s directive for an autopsy to be conducted on his late deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, to medically determine the cause of his death.

Governor Diri had given the directive on Saturday during a condolence visit by former President Goodluck Jonathan, to him and the Ewhrudjakpo family at the Government House, Yenagoa.

Diri said the decision was informed by speculations and comments circulating on social media.

Ewhrudjakpo reportedly slumped in his office at the Government House around 1:30 p.m. last Thursday and was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, where he was later pronounced dead.

Before his death, he had refused to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress along with Diri.

He later filed a suit to stop any plan by the state House of Assembly to impeach him over his refusal to defect along with Diri.

In an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday, Bayelsa PDP Secretary, Mr Ebiye Ogoli, said the party fully aligned with Diri’s directive to conduct an autopy to determine the cause of Ewhrudjakpo’s sudden death.

Ogoli said the party was in shock and deep pain over the unexpected death of the deputy governor, whom he described as a major asset to the administration.

“The state PDP aligns itself completely with the position of the governor. We are in deep pain over the shocking and unexpected demise of our dear deputy governor, who worked very closely with the state’s chief executive,” he said.

“If, because of the pain he feels, the governor has directed that an autopsy be carried out, we consider it reasonable and gladly endorse that position. May the soul of our departed leader find rest in the bosom of the Lord.”

During his condolence visit at the weekend, Jonathan described Ewhrudjakpo’s death as a sad moment for the entire state, recalling the late deputy governor’s active role in representing Diri at several programmes of the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Foundation.

“For me, he was somebody my foundation will never forget. He represented the governor in all our programmes,” Jonathan said.

“This year in Accra, Ghana, he did the same. On November 20, he mobilised members of the state Assembly and commissioners to Abuja for the 10th anniversary of the foundation. Whenever we had programmes, Bayelsa State was always represented. It is quite a sad moment for all of us.”

Jonathan described Ewhrudjakpo as humble and tireless, noting that his death was a reminder of the need for public office holders to rest.

“I was also a deputy governor, but he worked harder than I did. He appeared not to rest. This is a lesson for all of us to find time to rest,” he said.

In his remarks, Governor Diri thanked the former president for being the first to officially pay a condolence visit to the government and the Ewhrudjakpo family.

He cautioned against politicising the death, particularly on social media, urging Bayelsans to mourn and honour the late deputy governor.

“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,” Diri said.

“I have directed that an autopsy be carried out to reveal the cause of his death. There is a lot of nonsense going on on social media. This is a time to mourn him, not to speculate.”

The governor noted that the state had declared three working days of mourning in honour of the late deputy governor.

Diri and Jonathan later visited the widow of the deceased, Mrs Beatrice Ewhrudjakpo, at their residence within the Government House.

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