By Amofokhai Williams
Tension gripped the Bayelsa State capital on Thursday, after the state’s Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, suddenly collapsed while attending to official duties and was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa, for urgent medical attention.
The incident occurred in the early afternoon at the Government House in Yenagoa, where eyewitnesses described scenes of alarm as aides and security personnel mobilised swiftly to respond.
According to multiple sources, Ewhrudjakpo was initially taken to the hospital’s emergency unit before being moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where he is currently being stabilised.
At this stage, no official statement has been released by the Bayelsa State Government or the deputy governor’s office regarding the precise cause of the health scare.
However, insiders familiar with the situation have suggested the episode may stem from a possible cardiac-related issue, though this has not been confirmed by medical personnel.
A source close to the deputy governor noted that Ewhrudjakpo’s demanding schedule and relentless work ethic may have contributed to his collapse, describing him as “a workaholic” who rarely allows himself time to rest.
Security forces were reported to have cordoned off areas around the Federal Medical Centre as senior government officials and aides visited the facility to check on his condition.
Efforts to reach his media aide, Doubara Atasi, for comment were unsuccessful as calls were not answered at the time of filing this report.
The deputy governor’s sudden health emergency has sparked concern among political observers and residents alike, heightening anxieties about leadership continuity and governance in the state as officials await further updates from the hospital or state authorities.
Bayelsa State Governor Senator Douye Diri and other top officials have reportedly been informed of the situation, although no formal statement has yet been issued.
Medical teams at FMC are understood to be conducting further tests to determine the underlying cause of the collapse.
