The fourth governor of Rivers State from May 29, 2007 to October 25, 2007, Mr. Celestine Omehia, has been stripped of the recognition as ‘former governor of the state.’
In addition, Omehia has been asked to refund all the financial entitlements he had received totaling N696.5 million.
The refund is broken down into N600 million as benefits and N96, 520,359.40 as monthly pensions received till September 2022.
The de-recognition followed a motion by the leader of the state house of Assembly, Mr. Martin Amaewhule, entitled ‘Rescind the Rivers State house of assembly resolution on the recognition of Sir Celestine Omehia as former governor of Rivers State and the restoration of all benefits and entitlements due to him.”
Omehia is being delisted for not standing with the state governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, in his fight against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He, along with a former deputy speaker of the house of representatives, Mr. Austin Opara, and a former lawmaker representing Rivers southeast senatorial district, Mr. Lee Maeba, supports the PDP presidential candidate, Mr. Atiku Abubakar, whom Wike has a running battle with.
The trio paid a solidarity visit to Atiku after he secured the party’s ticket as the presidential candidate for the 2023 elections.
Presenting the motion addressed to the speaker and members of the house yesterday, Amaewhule recalled that on June 30, 2015, a motion was moved, seconded and argued upon and a resolution was passed in favour of recognition of Omehia as former governor of the state and the restoration of his privileges and entitlements.
Amaewhule who represents Obio Akpor state constituency said based on the resolution of the house, the Rivers State government through an instrument published in the Official Gazette of the state, No. 5, Volume 52, of March, 2016, under Wike, had recognised Omehia as former governor and restored all the privileges and entitlements accruing to the former Rivers governor.
“Pursuant to the official recognition, Sir Celestine Omehia received a lot in financial benefits and entitlements from the Rivers State Government including the sum of N600, 000,000.00 only as benefits, in addition to receipt of a total sum N96,520,359.40 only, as monthly pensions as September, 2022,” he said.
The lawmaker recalled that the Supreme Court of Nigeria in the case of Amaechi versus INEC and two others in 2008, had declared that the appellant (Chibuike Amaechi) was the actual or valid governorship candidate of the PDP in Rivers State for the 2007 general election and not Omehia, who contested the election.
He further said the Supreme Court also held that, “in the eyes of the law, Omehia was never a candidate in the election much less a winner.”
Amaewhule stated that being mindful of the position of the apex court on the subject matter and in line with Section 287 (I) of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) provides that, “the decisions of the Supreme Court shall be enforced in any part of the Federation by all authorities and persons, and by, courts and subordinate jurisdiction to that of the Supreme Court.”
He said the continued recognition of Omehia as former governor of the state and the continued granting of privileges and entitlement accruing to all former governors of the state to him (Omehia) was not in tandem with the highlighted pronouncement of the apex court and the provisions of the 1999 constitution.
Amaewhule called on the Wike to stop recognising Omehia as former governor of Rivers State and also terminate all privileges, benefits and entitlements accruing to all former governors which were also extended to him (Omehia).
He also urged the House to direct Omehia to stop using the title, “His Excellency” and suffix “Grand Service Star of Rivers State (GSSRS),” which pertains to only governors and former governors of the state.
The leader also urged the House to direct Omehia to refund all the monies paid to him by the state government as benefits and entitlements, to the treasury of the state government within seven days from the date of the resolution of the House.
In an instant debate, all the lawmakers who made contributions, including the representative of Celestine Omehia’s constituency in Ikwerre local government area, Anselm Oguguo agreed to the prayers.
Thereafter, the speaker of the house, Mr. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani said the house was right in taking the decision, because no law was absolute.
“The law that emanates from every society is a product of the socio-cultural, political and economic conditions of that society. Either a combination of these factors or in isolation can produce what becomes law in that society. That is exactly what you find in legislation.
“That is exactly what you find in legislation. That is why no legislation is absolute,” he said.
After putting the four prayers as captured by the mover of the motion before his colleagues and following their responses, the speaker then ruled: “Final decision of the House: those in favour, 21, against, nil, absentia, nil.
“Therefore, the House has resolved that the four prayers as canvassed by the mover are hereby agreed upon and the House has so directed that the Governor of Rivers State should endeavour to implement the resolution of the House as contained in the prayers canvassed by the leader of this House today.”
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has asked the governor and the house to apologise to the state for recanting on according to Omehia the status and privileges as former governor against the decision of the Supreme Court.
Spokesman for the party, Mr. Darlington Nwauju, demanded the apology hours after resolved to strip Omehia of all benefits as a former governor and a directive to Wike to activate a state instrument at ensuring Omehia refunds all benefits he had enjoyed Wike’s administration so recognised him.
“It is one example of legislative brigandage wherein the Rivers State Assembly brazenly committed an affront on the 25th of October 2007 judgement of the Supreme Court of Nigeria which declared that in the eyes of the law, Sir Celestine Omehia was never a Governor of Rivers State.
“Back in 2015, it was politically correct to recognise Omehia but with the political realities of today, it’s no longer expedient. A State Assembly maliciously disregarded the letters and spirit of the October 25 2007 judgement, only to turn around to shamelessly demand that the privileges Omehia enjoyed as a result of its infantile rascality in 2015, be refunded within 7 days.
“Should the Rivers State House of Assembly not be apologizing to Rivers people by now for poor representation? A Greek gift offered Sir Omehia to spite former Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, was today effortlessly retrieved.
“The deployment of political might in Rivers State and the obvious abuse of such powers is a dangerous signal to the growth of democracy in the State.
“How can a State House of Assembly which should ordinarily serve as the bastion of democracy, the voice and conscience of Rivers people, be reduced to the Governor’s lackey and attack dog against the Governor’s perceived political enemies? Let Rivers people judge,” he said in a statement.
