From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo has revealed how he became a victim of blackmail and election-related ritual killings in the build-up to the Bayelsa state governorship election in in November 2023.
Ewhrudjakpo stated this when he joined members of the Prosperity Youth Coalition (PYC) in thanking God for his mercies and goodness in saving them from a ghastly motor accident.
Speaking during a reception at the Perdis Hotel, Akenfa-Yenagoa, shortly after a special thanksgiving service at the Refined Peoples Assembly, Senator Ewhrudjakpo expressed gratitude to God for saving the lives of some members of the Coalition from a ghastly motor accident in the build-up to the Bayelsa governorship election.
A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Deputy Governor, Mr. Doubara Atasi, recalled that five members of the Prosperity Youth Coalition were involved in the accident on their way to Ekeremor to participate in the governorship campaigns of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last year.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, described the survival of all the victims of the accident as a personal victory, saying God proved his innocence and put his political opponents to shame.
According to the Deputy Governor, a lot of vile blackmails and speculations bordering on election-related ritual killings were made against him in the aftermath of the accident just because the accident occurred in his native Ofoni Community in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.
“I’m happy today because we did not lose any person in our camp. Even those whom the other camp claimed had died and have been used for rituals by this Ofoni man are all alive here with us. There were a lot of stories about me because the accident occurred at Ofoni. But I’m happy because God did not allow my enemies to triumph over me in that election. What they wished should happen to us, happened in their camp.”
Earlier in his remarks, the Director General, of Prosperity Youth Coalition, Comrade Doubara Kumokou, explained that the event was put together to honour God for miraculously saving the lives of five members of the organization as well as mark the first anniversary of its existence.
