A Death Too Painful: Sen. Dickson mourns deputy governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpor By Senator Seriake Dickson

The 11th of December will remain etched in my memory as one of the darkest and most painful days of my public life.

I had been preparing to participate in the Senate’s screening of ambassadorial nominees in my capacity as Vice Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs when I received an unsettling call about a medical emergency involving His Excellency, Dr. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpor, the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State.

I contacted his aides and the medical team attending to him, anxiously tracking every development.

I eventually withdrew from official duties and returned home to monitor the situation.

Then came the confirmation I dreaded most: Dr. Ewhrudjakpor was gone.

The news left me devastated. Nigeria has lost one of its most selfless, dedicated, honest and loyal public servants.

I have personally lost a dependable, principled mentee whose unwavering commitment to service to God, to humanity, and to our people, was unmatched.

Among all my political mentees, Dr. Ewhrudjakpor was the finest: a remarkable blend of competence, intellect, loyalty and humility.

Our paths first crossed in the 1990s, when he was a vibrant union activist and I was a young lawyer.

I took him under my wings, and from our early interactions he drew the inspiration to pursue further studies, eventually obtaining a doctorate in Law despite a demanding public service career.

When I became Attorney General of Bayelsa State, he served as my Personal Assistant.

When I moved to the House of Representatives, he became my Senior Legislative Aide.

As Governor, I appointed him Commissioner for Works, a position in which he served for nearly eight years.

His tenure was marked by an unrelenting work ethic and the execution of landmark infrastructural projects, even during Nigeria’s most challenging recession years.

His capacity and loyalty prompted me to support his election to the Senate, representing Bayelsa West.

Later, I nominated him alongside the current Governor, Senator Duoye Dickson, into the governorship race, where he emerged Deputy Governor.

In that office, he embodied loyalty and duty.

Perhaps the most defining trait of Dr. Ewhrudjakpor was his steadfastness.

Even when political circumstances forced him to choose between retaining his position and standing by me out of loyalty, respect and gratitude, he chose principle.

He endured significant trials because of that choice, yet he never wavered, never complained.

His open-door policy, humility and commitment to service touched countless lives.

He lived by the creed I have taught all my mentees: service to man is service to God, and to ourselves the least.

No one outside his immediate family feels this loss more intensely than I do.

It will be nearly impossible to fill the void his passing has created in my heart, in Bayelsa, and across Nigeria.

His record of selfless and principled service speaks for itself.

For me, replacing Dr. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpor intellectually formidable, emotionally grounded, mature and unwavering in his convictions, will be impossible.

I have spoken with his wife and extend my heartfelt condolences to her and their children, whom I consider my own.

His son is even named after me, a testament to the closeness of our bond.

I also commiserate with the entire Ewhrudjakpor family, the Ofoni community, Bayelsa West Senatorial District, the Catholic Church where he served faithfully as a devout member and Knight, and all who were touched by his life.

Since his passing, I have received an outpouring of calls and visits, an unmistakable reflection of the profound impact he made in public and private life.

The family, in consultation with the Bayelsa State Government, will announce funeral arrangements in due course.

I urge all well-meaning Nigerians to pray for the peaceful repose of this good man’s soul, and for divine strength for his family and all of us who must now bear this irreparable loss.

Sen. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpor