Jonathan Mourns Ewhrudjakpo, Says Bayelsa Has Lost a Tireless Servant as Diri Orders Autopsy

By Passman Akpos

Former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has described the death of the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, as a painful loss not only to the state but to all who worked closely with him, saying his humility, diligence and selfless service would be deeply missed.

Jonathan made the remarks on Saturday during a condolence visit to Governor Douye Diri and the Ewhrudjakpo family at Government House, Yenagoa.

The former president recalled Ewhrudjakpo’s consistent support for the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Foundation, noting that the late deputy governor often represented the Bayelsa State Government at the foundation’s programmes across Nigeria and beyond.

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

He cited Ewhrudjakpo’s role in mobilising members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and the State Executive Council for the foundation’s democracy dialogue programme in Benin City, Edo State, as well as similar efforts in Accra, Ghana, and Abuja.

“On November 20 this year, he mobilised assembly members and commissioners to Abuja to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Foundation. Whenever I am having a programme, Bayelsa State is always represented. It is quite a sad moment for all of us,” he added.

Jonathan eulogised the late deputy governor as a humble and tireless public servant, noting that he was widely respected and free of negative perceptions.

“I was also a deputy governor, but he worked harder than me. He appeared not to rest. This is even a lesson for us all to find time to rest,” Jonathan said, while praying for God’s comfort for Bayelsa State and the Ewhrudjakpo family.

In his response, Governor Douye Diri thanked the former president for being the first to pay an official condolence visit to the state government and the family of the deceased. He disclosed that the state government had directed that an autopsy be conducted to medically determine the cause of Ewhrudjakpo’s death.

The governor also cautioned against the politicisation of the deputy governor’s death, particularly on social media, urging Bayelsans to focus on honouring his memory.

“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.

He added that the state was in mourning, having declared three working days of mourning in honour of the late Ewhrudjakpo.

“There are a lot of nonsense going on on social media. If anybody is issuing any statement to eulogise him, please end at that and mourn him because the state is in a mourning mood,” the governor said.@Diri called on Bayelsans to embrace unity and love, reminding them of the inevitability of death

“Let us love one another to the point of death because all of us will answer this call one day,” he said.

Daniel AlabrahChief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa StateDecember 13, 2025