The seemingly intractable feud between Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and the 2023 presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, on Thursday claimed its first major casualty as Celestine Omehia was derecognized as a former governor of the state by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The House, in a manner many found difficult to explain, revised a motion it passed in 2015 and approved another disrobing Omehia of all cloaks of a former governor.
A reliable source told The Point that Omehia is a victim of the “dirty politics of vindictiveness, ungodly ego, and unbridled desire to play godfatherism in the life of others.”
The source said “What just happened was all because he met Atiku. A grown-up man, a lawyer, and a man that was once a governor, he sat on that chair and table and made decisions for and on behalf of Rivers State. How can anyone say such a person does not have the right to personal decisions on who to support and work for in an election period? This is sad. This is very sad. And, to imagine that this matter was settled just back in 2015, so what has changed?” the source queried.
Leader of the House, Martin Amaewmule, on Thursday moved a motion to reverse an earlier resolution of the 8th Assembly on June 30, 2015 that compelled the Executive Arm, headed by Governor Nyesom Wike to recognise Omehia as a former Governor and be accorded all entitlements, privileges and benefits.
He argued that the continued recognition of Omehia in that capacity was an affront to the Supreme Court judgement which in 2007 removed Celestine Omehia as a Governor for not being the duly elected candidate in that year’s election.
The lawmaker also submitted a copy of the Nigerian Weekly Law Report that contains the landmark judgement which removed Omehia from office and declared Rotimi Amaechi as the duly elected candidate of the PDP at the time and the right person to occupy the office of the Governor.
The lawmaker argued that the 9th Assembly now has a better knowledge and particulars on the said Supreme Court judgement, hence the need to rectify all errors and mistakes made by the state regarding it.
Amaewmule who represents Obio/Akpor Constituency 1 listed four requests for the House to consider.
1. That the House should rescind its earlier resolution that compelled the governor to recognize Omehia as an ex-governor.
2. That Omehia should cease to use the title “HIS EXCELLENCY” forthwith. And that Omehia should stop using the acronym “GSSRS”, meaning, Grand Service Star of Rivers State, a state honour meant for an incumbent and former governors alone.
3. That Omehia should refund all monetary entitlements received from the Rivers State Government, especially the sum of N600 million in benefits and N96.5 million in pension he has so far received as of September 2022 from the Rivers State Government within seven days.
4. And finally, any other decisions that the house deemed necessary.
The motion was seconded by the Whip of the House, Evans Bipi.
During the debate of the motion, 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.
As part of item number four, some of the lawmakers requested that a specific decision be made on what action to be taken if Omehia fails to refund the money he has benefited from being treated as a former governor.
After the debate, all 21 members present at the plenary voted in support of the four prayers by the leader of the House.
The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani said the house was right in taking the decision because no law is absolute.
A chieftain of the PDP in the state who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity said the development was capable of spelling doom for the party in the state.
“What has happened now is a very provocative development. Is PDP Rivers no longer one family? In 2015 you said the government should recognize him, today you’re saying disrobe him. This is the hand of Esau and the voice of Jacob. We know what is happening. It may not bode well for the party in the state,” he warned.
