Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday, formally recognised Celestine Omehia as a former governor of the state.
It will be recalled that Omehia, who was
inaugurated as the governor of the state on May 29, 2007, was replaced
by Mr. Rotimi Amaechi on October 25, 2007 through a verdict of the
Supreme Court.
Omehia was not recognised as a former governor of the state by the immediate past administration.
Wike, in recognising Omehia as a former
governor of the state, also personally returned Omehia’s official
portrait to where the photographs of other past chief executives of the
state were placed at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
The Rivers governor also said he had formally restored the benefits and the entitlements of Omehia as a former governor.
Speaking on the development, Wike
explained that the decision was taken because Omehia worked as governor
of the state between May 29, 2007 and October 25, 2007, adding that he
took the decisions on behalf of the state.
Wike said, “I hereby put back his
official portrait among those of former governors. He is now entitled to
the benefits of all former governors.”
The governor maintained that the era of
politics of bitterness in Rivers State was over and added that it was
not right to personalise governance as was allegedly done by the
immediate past administration.
Responding, a thrilled Omehia described the day as the most historic day of his political career.
Omehia described the restoration of his
rights as a former governor of the state as an indication that his
political dark days were over.
The Secretary to the State Government,
Chief Kenneth Kobani, Rivers State Housing Commissioner, Mr. Emma Okah,
and the state’s Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Chinwe Aguma, were among
top government officials that witnessed the event.
Speaking on the restoration of Omehia’s
status as an ex-governor, a former Commissioner for Information during
the Omehia administration, Mr. Emma Okah, described the action of the
governor as a welcome development.
Okah stated that the recognition of
Omehia as a former chief executive of the state was politically
expedient and a display of the spirit of politics without bitterness by
Wike.
“Morally speaking, it would have been
difficult to explain the vacuum in governance without a reference to Sir
Celestine Omehia as the governor of Rivers State from May 29, 2007 to
October 25, 2007.
“The state is in a mood of
reconciliation. The truth is that before the election in 2007, the
people saw Omehia, loved him and voted for him.
“We commend the state governor for
taking a bold step to reinstate Omehia’s status as a former governor of
the state. The implication is that Sir Omehia will be given the special
privilege, including benefits accorded other former governors,” Okah
added.
Source: Punch Newspaper.
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