December 21, (THEWILL) — Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has commiserated with the government and people of Bayelsa State following the passing of the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
Governor Fubara, leading a high-powered delegation, paid a condolence visit to his Bayelsa counterpart, Senator Douye Diri, on Sunday at the Government House in Yenagoa.
He noted that the people of Rivers State share in the grief, as the two states remain inextricably linked by history and geography.
While you in Bayelsa are grieving, our state is also grieving, Governor Fubara said. Our story in Rivers cannot be complete without some aspects of Bayelsa.
In situations like this, it is only proper for us to come and condole with the government and the family of the late deputy governor.
We assure you of our support, though only God can truly fill the void left by such a loss.
Responding, Governor Diri expressed profound gratitude to his colleague for the show of solidarity.
He noted that Fubara was the first governor to pay a physical condolence visit since the demise of Senator Ewhrudjakpo on December 11, a gesture he said underscores the brotherhood between the two sister states.
THEWILL reports that Governor Diri also touched on the diplomatic synergy between the two administrations, revealing that both leaders have been working quietly to resolve long-standing issues, including the Soku oil well dispute.
As governors, both of us have collaborated quietly to resolve the Soku oil well dispute that predated our administrations, Diri stated.
Rivers and Bayelsa cannot afford to be at loggerheads, especially as we are in the same party. We will continue to work together as brother states to resolve any other issues that might arise.
Following the formal reception at the Government House, both governors visited the official residence of the late deputy governor to offer their sympathies to his widow, Barr. Beatrice Ewhrudjakpo.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
