The governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, has explained why the state house of assembly withdrew its recognition of Celestine Omehia as a former gove
The governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, has explained why the state house of assembly withdrew its recognition of Celestine Omehia as a former governor of the state.
Wike noted that it was not true as being insinuated in some quarters that the decision was taken because Omehia was in the presidential campaign council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The governor 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 disclosed this on Friday, October 7, after he had signed a legal instrument into law de-recognising Omehia as former governor of the state.
The legal instrument was presented to him by the state attorney general and commissioner of justice, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor.
The governor said that the signing was an executive action sequel to the resolution of the state house of assembly during its plenary on Thursday.
Wike explained that with the signing, the recognition that accorded Omehia the status of a former governor, with accruable rights and benefits are now cancelled.
He also disclosed that he had always respected resolutions from the state assembly and never had any reason to disagree with them.
Wike stated that, “On Thursday, October 6, I received a resolution from the assembly de-recognising Celestine Omehia, who had enjoyed the privileges of a former governor of the state.
“My predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi, did not recognize 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, Omehia should enjoy the status of a former governor.
“I’ve always respected the resolutions of the assembly. I’ve never disagreed with anything the assembly has sent to me,” he added.
The governor also pointed to the reasons adduced by the leader of the Rivers state house of assembly that the strength of the information they have now had compelled them to reverse what they did in 2015.
Wike stated that, “The leader of the house said they have better facts now.
“The facts are the supreme court judgment categorically stated that Celestine Omehia was never a governor, because he never stood for any election.
“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,” he added.
The governor further urged members of the public to get a copy of the supreme court judgment and understand that it was the right thing to de-recognise Omehia.
The governor stated that, “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 that the lawmakers are right.
“He told me that in the first instance, the recognition was extra-judicial, and 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 spread news they know nothing about,” he added.
He explained as untrue the insinuation in the media that Omehia was de-recognised because he had ceased to be his ally, and now a member of the presidential campaign council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
Wike also pointed to the sum of money paid to Omehia as a proof against those who peddled tales that government does not pay such benefits to former governors at all.
