Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has rejected claims that the decision of the Rivers State House of Assembly to delist Sir Celestine Omehia as a former Governor is politically motivated.
Speculations in multiple quarters have linked Omehia’s delisting to the Cold war between him and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Governor Wike offered explanation concerning the delisting at the state’s house on Friday. Wike insisted that the 2015 recognition of Omehia by the lawmakers against the judgement of the Supreme Court was an error, which they had mustered courage to correct in 2022.
Wike on Friday October 7, 2022 signed a legal instrument into law activating the resolution passed by the House of Assembly to de-recognise Omehia as a former Governor of Rivers State.
The action immediately cancels all the recognition that accorded Omehia the status of a former governor plus the rights and benefits.
The signing took place at the Executive Council Chambers of the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt.
The Governor received the legal instrument from the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor before appending his signature to affirm the resolution of the lawmakers.
Wike said: “Yesterday, I received a resolution from the Assembly de-recognising Sir Celestine Omehia, who had enjoyed the privileges of a former governor of the State.
“But you will recollect that some time in 2007/2008, my predecessor, His Excellency Chibuike Amaechi did not recognise Sir Celestine Omehia as a former governor of the State.
“When we came on board, there were issues and the Assembly felt that, having served as governor, he should enjoy the status of a former governor. I’ve always respected the resolutions of the Assembly. I’ve never one day disagreed with anything the Assembly has sent to me.”
Governor Wike applauded the Lawmakers for ability to acknowledge the wrongs done in the course of administration and having the courage to correct same.
“The leader of the house said they have better facts and what are the facts? The facts are the Supreme Court judgment categorically stated that Sir Celestine Omehia was never a governor, because he never stood for any election and that it will be inappropriate for their (assembly) legacy that they didn’t respect the judgement of the Supreme Court, ” the Governor continued.
“In this part of our country, people will praise you when it suits them, but when you do the uncommon thing, people will not praise you.”
“I had to call the Attorney General for him to give me his legal opinion as regards the resolution of the Assembly, and rightly the Attorney General said they (assembly) are right.
“That in the first instance, the recognition was extra-judicial, that the Assembly has no power to change the judgment of any court, not to talk about the Supreme Court. So, people should understand and not to begin to play politics.
“Remember, last time, the National Assembly, when they were making the amendment of the Electoral Act, everybody said they should include the card reader and that was in 2018/2019.
“The National Assembly did not do it, particularly, the All Progressives Congress (APC) members and people told them what they were doing will haunt them. Posterity will not forgive you if you do not allow democracy to thrive.
“In the new Electoral Amendment Act, because they knew they did not do the right thing, they had to include it and you can see that members of the National Assembly are happy that they have done the right thing.
“If this did not happen, nobody will even know that the State government has been coughing out such amount of money to pay as benefits.
“I’m sure, they must have told you that no benefits and all entitlements were never paid, that is what you hear everywhere.
“But yesterday, when it was revealed that the State government coughed out such amount of money to pay as benefits as recommended by the Assembly and now, they have sent the resolution to me, I thank God today, without looking back, I have signed it as instrument and it will be gazetted for record purposes,” Wike concluded.
