Rivers Assembly Strips Ex-Governor Of ‘His Excellency’ Title, Orders Refund Of Entitlements

Former Governor of Rivers State, Celestine Omehia, has been ordered to refund all the entitlement he had enjoyed while heading the state.

This is as the State House of Assembly withdrew the title of ‘His Excellency’ by which Omehia was addressed with having ruled the state between May 29, 2007, and 25th October 2007.

Naija News understands that Omehia was the fourth governor to serve in the state.

However, at a plenary sitting on Thursday, lawmakers unanimously agreed that all the monetary entitlement Omehia had received as a governor as benefits amounting to N600 million within seven days be refunded.

The politician is also expected to return about N96.5 million he received as a pension. Naija News recalls that Omehia was removed in 2007 by the Supreme Court six months after he was declared winner of the state governorship election.

The court ordered that former Governor Rotimi Amaechi be sworn in as Governor. Omehia was, however, recognized as governor when Gov. Nyesom Wike came on board in 2015.

He had recently fallen out with Gov. Wike over his support for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP, Atiku Abubakar.

2023: Call Tinubu To Order – Rivers APC Tells Buhari Over Candidate’s Romance With Wike 

In another news, President Muhammadu Buhari was asked to call to order APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and governors elected on the platform of the ruling party over their relationship with the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.

The party stakeholders in a joint statement made available to Naija News on Monday said it is embarrassing that its leaders are rubbing shoulders with their opponent in the face of the 2023 general elections.

At a one-day consultive meeting held in South-South over the last weekend, the stakeholders comprising national assembly and state house of assembly candidates and other party faithful said it perceived as unfortunate that big wigs in the party, including Tinubu, came to Rivers to join Wike who is their clear opposition in the inauguration of state projects.

The development, according to them is simply glorifying Wike and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) camp and could be considered an anti-party activity.

They warned that these events are heaping praises on Wike ahead of the 2023 general election.

Presiding over the meeting held in Port Harcourt on Sunday evening, APC National Vice Chairman of the zone, Chief Victor Giadom, said Buhari must call the leaders to order immediately.

On his part, the state APC legal adviser, Dike Iheanyi Zubi said it was unfair for Governors of the South-West to hold nocturnal meetings with Wike and return back to their states without bothering to an interface or speak with their party members in the state.

Zubi further said the action of Tinubu who has held meetings with Wike abroad and the action of the governors concerned were tantamount to anti-party activities and called on Buhari to call them (Tinubu and the South-West governors) to order.