Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has restored the rights and privileges due Sir. Celestine Omehia as former Governor of the State, re-enacting a similar gesture last year by Ekiti state Governor Ayo Fayose for a former governor, Segun Oni,sacked by the court and condemned to history dustbin by successor Kayode Fayemi.
Governor Wike announced this at a short ceremony, where he hung the portrait of Omehia at the Executive Chambers of Government House, Port Harcourt, alongside portraits of past governors and the incumbent.
Wike said he could not understand why his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi refused to hang the picture of Omehia.
“You will recall that in 2007, precisely May 2007, somebody superintended the affairs of this state and that was Celestine Omehia. He was governor of Rivers State from May 29th, 2007 to October 25th, 2007. But it’s unfortunate that we play politics of bitterness and rancour and that is not necessary. If you look around, it is only Omehia’s picture that is not here as a former governor. Take it or leave it, he was a governor of Rivers State and we have resolved to do what we think is right”, Governor Wike asserted.
According to Wike, even if Omehia served the state for just one day, his tenure deserves to be recognized.
“I believe that even if it’s a single day, he acted on behalf of the state. As a governor, he did a lot of things on behalf of Rivers State: He awarded roads and so on. Why will anybody say he was not a governor of the state? I will not accept such! I hereby put back his photograph and restore all his entitlements as a former governor of Rivers State”, Wike declared.
Omehia who witnessed the gesture by Wike said: “At a time when I thought I have met the darkness of my political career, a new lease of life is being given to me. It shows that the governor is a man of honour, a man of integrity and a man who is being used by God Almighty to restore the lost glory of the state.”
Wike himself was a former ally of Amaechi. As a lawyer, he supported Amaechi’s legal battle to remove Omehia as an usurper.
The legal battle was resolved by the supreme Court in a judgement delivered in October 2007.
The court said that in the eyes of the law, Omehia was never the Governor of Rivers state and ordered that Amaechi be sworn in as Governor.
Amaechi as Governor appointed Wike as the Chief of Staff. And Wike went to become a minister of state, from where he fought Amaechi to take control of the state.
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