Gov. Wike signs instrument striping Omehia of recognition as ex-governor

Gov. Wike signs instrument striping Omehia of recognition as ex-governor

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has signed a legal instrument into law, to back up the de-listing of Sir Celestine Omehia of all rights and privileges associated with the office of the Governor.

With the signing, the recognition that accorded Sir Celestine Omehia the status of a former governor of the state, with accruable rights and benefits is now cancelled.

This is coming less than 24 hours after de-recognising Omehia as a former governor of Rivers State in the State House of Assembly.

According to reports by Independent, Governor Wike signed the instrument at the Executive Council Chambers of the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt on Friday when it was presented to him by the State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Professor Zacchaeus Adangor.

The governor disclosed that he had always respected resolutions from the State Assembly and never had any reason to disagree with them.

“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 sometime 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 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.

The governor noted that to be the hallmark of leadership, being able to acknowledge that there was an error in the course of administration and having the courage to correct such error.

“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.”

Governor Wike stressed the need why people should keep politics away from what had been done. He further urged people to get a copy of the Supreme Court judgment and understand that it is the right thing to derecognise Omehia in the eye of the law.

“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 begin to play politics.”

Governor Wike explained as untrue that the insinuation in the media that Sir Celestine Omehia was derecognised because he had ceased to be his ally, and is now a member of the presidential campaign council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He stated that the Assembly had a conscience and did not want posterity to blame them for an error they had done that they could correct.

Governor Wike likened the development to the position members of the National Assembly also found themselves in when they were working on the Electoral Amendment Bill.

“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 hunt them. Posterity will not forgive you if you do not allow democracy to thrive,” the governor said.