Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde mourns Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Bayelsa Deputy Governor, describing his death as a painful loss to the state and PDP family

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has expressed profound grief over the death of Bayelsa State Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, describing it as a sad and painful loss to both the state and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

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In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olarenwaju, Governor Makinde extended condolences to Ewhrudjakpo’s family, the Bayelsa State Government, the people of Bayelsa, and the PDP family.

The PUNCH reports that Ewhrudjakpo was pronounced dead after collapsing suddenly at the Government House in Yenagoa on Thursday afternoon.

“I received the news of the passing away of our brother and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Ewhrudjakpo, on Thursday.

His death is painful and it is a sad loss to the state he served till his last breath and to us in the PDP, as he was a faithful party man, who chose loyalty and commitment to democracy above personal gains,” Makinde said.

He prayed for repose of the deceased’s soul and for strength for his family and the people of Bayelsa to bear the loss, describing Ewhrudjakpo as “a loyal party man and a courageous democrat.”

The South-South Governors’ Forum and the PDP also mourned Ewhrudjakpo’s passing. Ogun State Governor and Chairman of the forum, Dapo Abiodun, commended Ewhrudjakpo as a dependable ally and expressed condolences to his family and friends.

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Ewhrudjakpo’s sudden death has sent ripples through the political landscape in Bayelsa and the wider South-South region, marking the loss of a key political figure in Nigeria.