Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has accused the Rivers State Legislature of illegally recognizing Celestine Omehia as the former governor of the state in 2015. (Watch Wike Video)
Omehia has never been governor in the eyes of the law, (Watch Wike Video) and the actions of the state's 32 lawmakers violated a Supreme Court ruling that is currently in place that ordered her dismissal, Wake said. The governor explained that, in retrospect, the state legislative leaders even referred to the Supreme Court, which overturned the decision of Omehia, which said he never ran for election. (Watch Wike Video)
Wike made the remarks at the Governor's House in Port Harcourt on (Watch Wike Video) Friday when he signed a legal instrument to revoke the recognition of Omehia as a former governor of the state, presented to him by the Attorney-General and a professor of law. Zacheus Adangor. (Watch Wike Video)
He said the signing was an executive action following a decision by the state legislature on (Watch Wike Video) Thursday. Wike explained that with the signing, the recognition that gave Omehia the status of ex-governor, the recognition with the accrued rights and benefits, has now been cancelled. (Watch Wike Video)
The governor disclosed that he has always respected the decisions of the state legislature and has never had any reason to disagree with them. This was contained in a statement issued by the media aide to the governor, Kelvin Ebiri, and made available to journalists on Friday. (Watch Wike Video)
"Yesterday I received a resolution from the House to de-recognize Sir Celestine Omehia, who had the privilege of being a former governor." But you will recall that in 2007/2008, (Watch Wike Video) my predecessor, Honorable Chibuike Amaechi, did not recognize Sir Celestine Omehia as the former governor of the state. "When we came into office, there were problems and the assembly felt that when he was governor, he should have the status of a former governor. "I have always respected the decisions of the General Assembly. I have never agreed with anything sent to me by the General Assembly, "the statement quoted Vick as saying. Wake pointed out the reason why the leaders of the Rivers State House of Assembly said that the power of the information they have now has made them change what they did in 2015. (Watch Wike Video)
"House leadership says they have better facts. What are the facts?" The fact is that the decision of the Supreme Court made it clear that Sir Celestine Omeja was never a governor because he never contested in any election and they ignored that the decision of the Supreme Court did not suit their (parliament) legacy.
"In this part of our country, people will compliment you when it suits them, but people won't compliment you when you do something out of the ordinary," (Watch Wike Video) Vick said. The governor emphasized the need for people to keep politics away from what has already been done. He also urged the public to get a copy of the Supreme Court's decision and realize that the de-recognition of Omejia was the right thing to do. "I had to call the Attorney General to give his legal opinion on the Assembly's decision, and the Attorney General rightly said that they (the Assembly) were right." Firstly, recognition is extrajudicial and Parliament has no power to change the decision of any court, let alone the decision of the Supreme Court. "So people should understand and not start playing politics," the governor said.
He explained that the media claim that Omehia was disenfranchised because he is no longer his ally and is no longer a member of the People's Democratic Party's presidential campaign committee is false. Vic also pointed to the money paid to Omehia as evidence against those who negotiated that the government does not pay such benefits at all. (Watch Wike Video)
"Had it not happened, nobody (Watch Wike Video) would know that the national government has coughed up so much money to pay benefits." I'm sure they've told you that no benefits and all entitlements have ever been paid. That's what you're hearing everywhere. (Watch Wike Video)
But yesterday when I came to know that the national government had withdrawn as (Watch Wike Video) much money for benefits as recommended by the parliament and now they have sent me the decision, I thank God that there is no looking back today. I have written under the tool and it will be published in the newspaper Gazetted," he said. (Watch Wike Video)