ALL Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state has asked Governor Nyesom Wike and the Rivers State House of Assembly to apologise to Rivers people for recanting on according to Sir Celestine Omehia the status and privileges as former governor against the decision of the Supreme Court.
Darlington Nwauju, Rivers APC Spokesperson, demanded the apology hours after the State Assembly on Thursday resolved to strip Omehia of all benefits as a former governor and a directive to Governor Wike to activate a state instrument at ensuring Omehia refunds all benefits he had enjoyed to the tune of N695.5Million while the Wike’s administration so recognised him.
Nwauju said, “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 it’s infantile rascality in 2015, be refunded within 7days.
“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 should 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.”
Vanguard