Rivers State House of Assembly Shouldn’t Recognize Celestine Omehia As Ex Governor – Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has come out to blame the Rivers State House of Assembly for recognising Celestine Omehia as a former Governor of the state in 2015.

He recently had his say while speaking to the press, and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to him, the action of the State 32-member legislature was in violation of an extant Supreme Court judgement which ousted Omehia and said he never existed as governor in the eyes of the law.

He added that with the benefit of hindsight, the leader of the state assembly even alluded to the judgement of the apex court ousting Omehia, which said he never stood for any election.

His words, “Yesterday, I received a resolution from the Assembly de-recognising Sir Celestine Omehia, who had enjoyed the privileges of a former governor of the State.”

“But you will recollect that sometime in 2007/2008, my predecessor, His Excellency Chibuike Amaechi did not recognize Sir Celestine Omehia as a former governor of the State.”

“When we came on board, there were issues and the Assembly felt that, having served as governor, he should enjoy the status of a former governor.”

“Ive always respected the resolutions of the Assembly. I’ve never one day disagreed with anything the Assembly has sent to me.”

“The leader of the house said they have better facts and what are the facts?”

“The facts are the Supreme Court judgment categorically stated that Sir Celestine Omehia was never a governor, because he never stood for any election and that it will be inappropriate for their (assembly) legacy that they didn’t respect the judgement of the Supreme Court.”

“In this part of our country, people will praise you when it suits them, but when you do the uncommon thing, people will not praise you.”

“I had to call the Attorney General for him to give me his legal opinion as regards the resolution of the Assembly, and rightly the Attorney General said they (assembly) are right.”

“That in the first instance, the recognition was extra-judicial, that the Assembly has no power to change the judgment of any court, not to talk about the Supreme Court.”

“So, people should understand and not to begin to play politics.”