President Bola Tinubu, former President Goodluck Jonathan, Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, and several other dignitaries on Friday paid their last respects to the late Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, at his funeral service in Ofoni, Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.
The funeral mass, which was held at St Paul’s Catholic Church, Ofoni, attracted political leaders, traditional rulers and top government officials from across the country.
Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, expressed condolences to the Ewhrudjakpo family, the Bayelsa State Government and the people of the state over the loss.
Also present at the service were former First Lady, Patience Jonathan; representatives of the Speaker of the House of Representatives; deputy governors from Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, Ondo, Bauchi and Benue states; former governor Peter Obi; the Speaker and members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly; the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State; as well as former Deputy Governor of Edo State and Director-General of the National Institute for Sports, Philip Shaibu.
Speaking at the service, Jonathan described the late deputy governor as a committed public servant who believed strongly in inclusive governance.
Jonathan said, “Lawrence, in all our activities, would take members of the State Executive Council, the House of Assembly, and sometimes traditional rulers and other stakeholders along.”
Governor Diri, in his tribute, described his late deputy as a careful and disciplined individual, noting that his lifestyle reflected a deep sense of responsibility.
“We are all familiar with how careful my deputy governor, who is lying in state here, was, particularly about where he went, what he ate or drank. He always carried a small flask with him. If carefulness alone were enough, perhaps Lawrence would still be with us,” Diri said.
In his homily, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Bomadi, Hyacinth Egbebo, urged politicians to emulate the life and values of the late deputy governor.
“This man came as a good Christian and impacted lives in a way I have rarely seen politicians do. He made us believe in politics and politicians by the way he lived,” the bishop said.
Ewhrudjakpo, aged 60, reportedly slumped and died on December 11 while performing his official duties at the Government House in Yenagoa.
Meanwhile, tragedy struck on Friday as an 18-seater bus conveying passengers to the funeral was involved in an accident along the Toru-Orua axis of the Sagbama–Ekeremor Road.
Confirming the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Health, Prof Seiyefs Brisibe, said two persons died on the spot, dismissing reports that more than 10 people were killed.
“Our state ambulance services responded promptly and evacuated the victims to hospitals. Seven were taken to Sagbama General Hospital, while 10 were taken to the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri.
“Two passed on at the accident scene, while others are in stable condition. The speculation that more than 10 people died is false,” he stated.
