From Kenechukwu Obiajuru, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has commended the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, for suspending its scheduled project inauguration as it joins other Nigerians in mourning the death of the state deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
Governor Diri gave the commendation during a condolence visit by a delegation from the NDDC, led by the Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, at the Government House, Yenagoa.
The NDDC delegation included the Executive Director Projects, Dr Victor Antai; the Executive Director Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde; the Bayelsa State Representative on the NDDC Board, Senator Dimaro Denyanbofa, and other Directors of the Commission.
Governor Diri said his late deputy was dependable and that the achievements of his administration were due to their harmonious working relationship.
Senator Diri acknowledged the show of support from all parts of the country, noting that President Bola Tinubu and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, had phoned him to extend their sympathies.
He noted that the condolence visits underscored the wide respect and admiration for the late Ewhrudjakpo and highlighted the deep sense of loss felt across the state and beyond.
The governor cautioned against the politicisation of Ewhrudjakpo’s death, urging the public to respect the mood of mourning in the state.
Diri appealed to the public to refrain from speculation and instead celebrate the life and service of the late deputy governor, whom he said served Bayelsa State with dedication and commitment.
Speaking earlier, the NDDC Chief Executive Officer, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, described the late Senator Ewhrudjakpo as a man whose dedication to duty and service to the state were outstanding.
He stated: “We are here to condole with you and the state over the passing of your deputy. We came as a team because we have built a strong partnership with the Bayelsa State Government. Over the years, we have built a good relationship with the governors of the Niger Delta States.”
“We were supposed to commission the NDDC 650-bed hostel complex at the Niger Delta University, Ammassoma, today, but because the state is in mourning, we decided to shelve all commissioning plans as a mark of respect for the departed Deputy Governor and the state.”
The NDDC boss affirmed that the Commission was committed to supporting the state government in this mourning period. “We all know the cordial relationship you shared with the late deputy governor. You shared a lot of political experiences as Senators and here in the Government of Bayelsa State,” he said.
Ogbuku noted that the late Deputy Governor was outstanding in the various places he worked, especially as Commissioner for Works in Bayelsa State, where he played a pivotal role in advancing infrastructure development, and in his distinguished service as Senator representing Bayelsa West in the 9th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He maintained that the late Deputy Governor “consistently demonstrated competence, vision, and an unyielding passion for the progress of his people. His life was defined by service, sacrifice, and a resolute commitment to the common good.”
Ogbuku urged the governor, the Ewhrudjakpo family, and the people of the state to remain strong and be comforted, as the late deputy governor led a selfless life worthy of emulation.
