Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death of the state’s Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, following his sudden collapse and passing.
Governor Diri disclosed this on Saturday at the Government House in Yenagoa while receiving former President Goodluck Jonathan, who paid a condolence visit to the state over the deputy governor’s death.
Ewhrudjakpo died on Thursday after collapsing in his office. He was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Speaking on the incident, Diri expressed concern over what he described as misleading narratives circulating online and warned against politicising the death of his deputy.
“I want to make an appeal. 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,” the governor said.
He stressed that an autopsy had become necessary to put an end to speculations surrounding the circumstances of Ewhrudjakpo’s death.
“I have directed that an autopsy be done to reveal the cause of his death. There is a lot of nonsense going on on social media,” Diri stated.
The governor urged those paying tribute to the late deputy governor to do so responsibly and with respect for the mood in the state.
“If anybody is issuing any statement to eulogise him, please end at that and mourn him because the state is in a mourning mood,” he said.
Diri also reminded residents that the government had declared three working days of mourning in honour of the deceased and called on everyone to show unity and love during the period.
“That is why we have declared three working days of mourning, and we expect everyone in the state to do what the former president has done today,” he added.
Reflecting on life and death, the governor said, “Let us love one another to the point of death because all of us will answer this call one day.”
Ewhrudjakpo’s death has thrown Bayelsa State into mourning, with political leaders, traditional rulers and residents paying tributes to the late deputy governor, who was widely regarded as a committed public servant.
