Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, was on high alert following the sudden hospitalization of Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
The official reportedly collapsed at his office on Thursday afternoon and was urgently transported to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Federal Medical Centre.
The incident, occurring around 1:30 pm, prompted a swift emergency response. Initial accounts from eyewitnesses described the Deputy Governor as being in critical condition upon arrival at the hospital.
Conflicting reports about his status circulated, with some unverified sources expressing grave concern.
However, medical personnel at FMC have confirmed to our correspondent that Senator Ewhrudjakpo is now stable and receiving optimal care.
While an official statement on his condition or the precise cause is pending, medical insiders indicated a potential cardiac-related issue.
An associate close to the Deputy Governor cited his intense workload as a possible factor, noting, “He’s a workaholic; he really needs to find time to rest.”
The hospital premises saw a significant security presence and visits from senior government officials demonstrating support.
Efforts to obtain a statement from the deputy governor’s media aide were not immediately successful.
Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.
Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.
He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.
Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).
He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.
He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.
Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.
