Former Governor of Bayelsa, Sen Seriake Dickson, on Monday said that the late Deputy Governor of Bayelsa Dr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo remained loyal to him until death.
Dickson, who spoke in a live interview broadcast of several radio stations in Bayelsa, noted that the late Ewhrujakpo declined go his advice to join Gov Douye Diri in the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the stability of Bayelsa.
Dickson said that Ewhrujakpo told him that joining the APC without Dickson, his political mentor, amounted to betrayal and opted to remain with him in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“Gov Diri discussed his plan to leave PDP for APC several times and I did not see any merit in it and when he left, I advised Lawrence to join the governor in the interest of the political stability of the state which I have worked to build in the past 15 years
“Lawrence told me that he cannot abandon PDP that provided him with the platform to join APC, a party that the PDP contested and won, while his political mentor remained in PDP,” Dickson said.
Dickson recalled that he spotted the traits of loyalty in Ewhrujakpo whom he met in the 1999s in his law practice when the late deputy governor consulted him as a lawyer.
He explained that In spite of partisan differences between him and Gov Diri, he will remain supportive of the Diri-led administration until he serves our the remaining two years of his second term as governor.
Dickson said he has no regrets in the choice of Douye Diri and Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo as governor and deputy governor as the duo worked without friction.
He condemned the jostling and intense lobbying for Ewhrudjakpo’s replacement even before he was buried on Jan 30.
He said that now that Ewhrujakpor has been buried, the nomination of a replacement is the responsibility of the governor.
“There is no contention about who should nominate a replacement for the late deputy governor.
“Even though I produced the governor and his deputy, I have neither interfered with the government or sought for any favours.
“For the six years so far, I have not put Diri under any pressure and will remain so for the remaining two years.
“Diri has not yet discussed the replacement of Ewhrujakpo with me and if he tables it, then it can be discussed. It is entirely at his discretion as governor,” Dickson said.