Why I signed Rivers Assembly’s resolution to strip Omehia of ‘ex-governor’ status – Wike

Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike has said his decision to assent to the resolution passed by the State House of Assembly stripping Celestine Omehia of his ‘former governor’ status was in line with the Supreme Court ruling in 2007 which had declared that the latter was not duly elected as such.

Governor Wike signed the resolution of the Rivers State Assembly into law, Thursday.

Omehia was removed as Governor of Rivers State following a Supreme Court ruling barely weeks after inauguration in 2007, citing improper conduct of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election in the state, as it also ordered the immediate swearing-in of another party aspirant, Rotimi Amaechi, who had dragged the sitting governor to court.

Amaechi claimed in the suit that he duly won the primary poll conducted by the ruling PDP but was denied the ticket.

However, last Wednesday, the Rivers House of Assembly passed a motion to withdraw its earlier resolution accorded to Celestine Omehia as former governor of the state in the run-up to the 2019 General Elections in the state.

According to the Rivers Assembly, Omehia ceases to be addressed as ‘His Excellency.’

The Assembly also resolved that Omehia is to refund all monetary entitlements he has, so far, received from the Rivers Government as of September 2022.

These include the sum of N600 million in benefits, and N96.5m in pension within seven days.

Omehia, a former political ally of Wike, has been embroiled in a running battle with the latter for allegedly pitching support for the Rivers Chief Executive’s opponents within the PDP following unfavourable outcome of the recent Presidential primary election of the party.

Maters came to a head when Omehia was appointed into the PDP Presidential Campaign Committee as Wike declined similar appointment.

Wike had in the run-up to the 2019 General Elections, recognised Omehia as former governor and also reinstated previous privileges accorded such status to the latter.

Reacting to his decision to assent to the Assembly’s resolution, Wike said his decision to assent to the resolution follows the Supreme Court ruling which had declared as illegal the election of Omehia.

Signing the resolution into law, Friday, at the Executive Council Chambers of the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt when it was presented to him by the State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Professor Zacchaeus Adangor, Wike said he had always respected resolutions from the state’s lawmakers.

“Yesterday (Friday), 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 sometime in 2007/2008, my predecessor, His Excellency Chibuike Amaechi did not recongnise 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.

“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.

“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.”

“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 (Friday), 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 gazette for record purposes,” Wike said.