In a political landscape often defined by shifting allegiances and opportunistic party-switching, the late Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Dr. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, is being remembered for a rare commitment: loyalty over political expediency.
Former Governor Seriake Dickson disclosed Monday that Ewhrudjakpo turned down an opportunity to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), opting instead to remain steadfast in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) until his passing.
Speaking in a live radio interview broadcast statewide, Dickson recounted personally urging his former deputy to follow Governor Douye Diri into the APC after Diri’s defection.
The suggestion, Dickson explained, was intended to ensure political stability in Bayelsa and to safeguard the continuity of governance.
“Lawrence told me he could not abandon the PDP—the party that gave him the platform to serve just to join a party we had defeated, while I remained behind.
“For him, loyalty mattered more than convenience or personal gain, ” he said.
Dickson framed Ewhrudjakpo’s choice as a defining testament to his character.
Recalling their first meeting in the late 1990s, when Ewhrudjakpo was a client during Dickson’s law practice, the former governor said the qualities of integrity and steadfastness were evident even then.
“That sense of loyalty stayed with him to the end,” Dickson said.
Despite disagreeing with Governor Diri’s defection to the APC, Dickson said he had encouraged Ewhrudjakpo to consider following suit for the sake of political continuity.
Ewhrudjakpo, however, remained resolute in his decision, prioritising principle over positional advantage.
The former governor also addressed rumours about his involvement in the current administration, dismissing suggestions that he had tried to influence the governor or assert control.
“For six years, I have not put Diri under any pressure, and I will not do so in the remaining two years,” he said, emphasising the harmonious relationship that marked his administration.
On the subject of replacing the late deputy governor, Dickson condemned early power jockeying, calling it disrespectful.
He clarified that the authority to nominate a successor lied solely with the sitting governor.
“There is no contention about that,” he said. “The nomination is entirely at the discretion of the governor, and I do not expect to be involved unless invited.”
