Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
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.
View Comments (2)
Is there a rational reason why Wike is publicly doing his best to ridicule the judiciary and sense of law and order in governance? In 1999, Wike was made the Chairman of Obior. Akpor LGA - only after the Court of Appeal, in 3 separate suits, two of which were delivered on the same day annulled the election of another man: Samuel Rogers Ichenwo. The 3 cases are CA/PH/EP/66/99 reported in (1999) 4 NWLR (Pt. 600) 587 - 598; CA/PH/EP/65/99 reported in (1999) 4 NWLR (pt 600) 618-628; and CA/PH/EP/145/99. Wike did not contest the election he was challenging in court because his name had been substituted by the PDP for Icheonwo. Being the highest and last Court for LGA elections then, the 3 Court of Appeal decisions were revolutionary statements in that they not only cancelled the elections and refused to declare the man who came second as winner, but they also gave some by-the-way or orbita statements which Wike has over the years opportunistically parlayed into his so-called support of Amaechi 8 years later. Leading to Wike becoming Amaechi's Chief of Staff, Campaign Director-General, federal Minister for Education and now putative Governor of Rivers State. Those 3 judgment showed Wike how powerful the courts are. And his tack has been to 'use' the courts to climb, then find a way that works in maintaining his stranglehold on power and his climb inexorably to the Presidency - while destroying the judiciary as a counterweight in checkmating that climb. If any Nigerian thinks this is a harmless act in far away Rivers State by a mad man in State House, the person better again. This is a devious megalomaniac in action: if he negotiates this bend once again, Nigerians would wake up to find a monster in Aso Rock.
Why is Wike doing his utmost to make the judiciary look bad? In 1999, Wike was made the Chairman of Obior. Akpor LGA - only after the Court of Appeal, in 3 separate suits, two of which were delivered on the same day annulled the election of another man: Samuel Rogers Ichenwo. The 3 cases are CA/PH/EP/66/99 reported in (1999) 4 NWLR (Pt. 600) 587 - 598; CA/PH/EP/65/99 reported in (1999) 4 NWLR (pt 600) 618-628; and CA/PH/EP/145/99. Wike did not contest the election he was challenging in court because his name had been substituted by the PDP for Icheonwo. Being the highest and last Court for LGA elections then, the 3 Court of Appeal decisions were revolutionary statements in that they not only cancelled the elections and refused to declare the man who came second as winner, but they also gave some by-the-way or orbita statements which Wike has over the years opportunistically parlayed into his so-called support of Amaechi 8 years later. Leading to Wike becoming Amaechi's Chief of Staff, Campaign Director-General, federal Minister for Education and now putative Governor of Rivers State. Those 3 judgment showed Wike how powerful the courts are. And his tack has been to 'use' the courts to climb, then find another way that 'works' in maintaining his stranglehold on power and his climb inexorably to the Presidency - while destroying the judiciary as a counterweight in checkmating that climb. If any Nigerian thinks this is a harmless act in far away Rivers State by a mad man in State House, the person better again. This is a devious megalomaniac in action: if he negotiates this bend once again, Nigerians would wake up one day to find a monster in Aso Rock as President. This is no alarmist ranting. That is the reason why Wike is doing his utmost to destroy the reputation of the judiciary and the sense of law and order in governance.