Following the sudden demise of his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has ordered all his cabinet members to undergo compulsory medical examination.

Diri, who gave the directive during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday in Yenagoa, directed the Commissioner for Health, Seiyefa Brisibe, to ensure that every member of the state executive council underwent the compulsory medical check.

He said the directive became imperative in light of the recent death of his deputy, arguing that as public officers with hectic schedules, regular health checks are necessary to ensure medical fitness at all times to prevent avoidable death.

The governor noted that although death was inevitable, humans can take preventive measures to enjoy good health and a long life.

He disclosed that an autopsy on the late deputy governor had been conducted and that the result would be made public at the right time.

While cautioning against politicising Ewhrudjakpo’s death, Diri disclosed that a burial committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government had been constituted and that the burial date would be announced soon.

His words, “We thank everyone who grieved with us and pray that in 2026, we will celebrate and not mourn.

“All of us must be careful about our health so we can prevent avoidable death. Members of the State Executive Council, go and do a compulsory check-up. This is a directive that must be carried out.

“I directed that an autopsy be conducted and the result is ready. At the right time, we will make it public.

“While we were mourning, some people were politicising the death of our deputy governor instead of showing love and compassion. This was not expected in our state.”

It took over 24 hours before the state government could announce his passing, especially after the People’s Democratic Party had sent condolences to the state government and his family.

His sudden demise had come as a shock to concerned Bayelsans, who also questioned the manner of his passing on social media.

Diri, therefore, ordered an autopsy to be conducted on his late deputy in order to determine the cause of his death.

Meanwhile, Brisibe presented an award plaque and a dummy cheque of $400,000 won by Bayelsa as first runner-up in the Primary Health Care Leadership Challenge for the South-South region.

The leadership challenge in the health sector was funded by UNICEF, Dangote Group and other international bodies.

Diri described the state’s performance as refreshing and encouraging, saying the government’s investment in the sector was paying off.

“This is the best award we have won so far, and it came with a dollar reward. It is down to the exceptional performance of the Commissioner for Health. When you work hard, there will be results like this,” he said.

Earlier, Brisibe stated that Bayelsa‘s recognition and performance in the competition were a result of Governor Diri’s commitment to the development of the health sector.

He also presented to the governor the Distinguished Leadership Award in Governance in recognition of his outstanding performance and contribution to the growth of the National Association of Nurses And Midwives in Bayelsa and Nigeria. (The PUNCH)

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