Seyi Tayese, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa Elders Council has commiserated with the state Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, over the death of his immediate elder brother, Nathaniel Ewhrudjakpo, whose sad event took place at the weekend.
The Elders Council, led by its Chairman, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd.), on Wednesday, paid a condolence visit to the Deputy Governor in Government House, Yenagoa.
Speaking on behalf of the Council during the visit, Rear Admiral John Jonah said the death of Nathaniel Ewhrudjakpo, fondly called Natty, came as a rude shock to the Elders Council, noting that the loss of a dear brother was always painful.
While commiserating with the Ewhrudjakpos, John Jonah, who is the immediate past Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, enjoined them to take heart to overcome the sad experience, stressing that there was hardly anyone or family that had not lost a dear one.
He said the Bayelsa Elders Council was pleased and satisfied with Senator Ewhrudjakpo for his remarkable stewardship to the state, as former Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure and in his present office as Deputy Governor.
Rear Admiral John Jonah, used the opportunity to restate the Council’s commitment to supporting the present administration to enable it to succeed in moving the state forward, pointing out that “if any government in the state failed, it is Bayelsans that had failed.”
He said, “The story came to us as a very sad news. Therefore, we came to commiserate with you because somebody very close to you left this world.
“It is not an easy thing to lose a brother. But these are things that happen. There is hardly any person that had not had this kind of experience. But as mortal men, we take heart to manage the situation.
“We are pleased with the role you are playing; we are pleased with your services to this state since the opportunity was given to you even as a commissioner and till now. And for the fact that you have been standing solidly by the leadership of the state to move the state forward.
“I have always said that whichever way you think, if any government fails in this state, Bayelsans have failed; That is the conviction of the Elders Council which I coordinate.”
“The Elders Council will always give support to government at any time, using whatever knowledge that we have. We have an enormous reservoir of knowledge in that Council.
“And so, we want to see how we can help, assist and partner with government to make sure that the state gets what I call the ‘Creek Marvel'”
Responding, the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, expressed gratitude to the Bayelsa Elders Council for their show of love and empathy to him and his family at such a trying time.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who stated that the death of his brother was quite devastating to him and the entire family, noted that the family was quite encouraged by the condolence visit.
Members of the Bayelsa Elders Council who accompanied the Chairman on the visit include Dr. Josephine Igodo; Major Andrew Oputa (Rtd.), Hon. Austin Lugbenwei, Chief Douye Douglas Naingba
Others are Elder Zee Debekeme, Mrs Love Amaseimogha, Mr Mike Ekemi, Madam Helen Aggrey and Elder Israel Igbori.
Similarly, a delegation of the Government House Correspondents Crew led by its Chairman, Mr Solomon Ebikienmo equally condoled with the Deputy Governor and prayed God to strengthen him and the Ewhrudjakpo family to bear the irreparable loss of their brother, father and son.
