The All Progressives Congress (APC) chapter in Rivers has reacted to Thursday's de-recognition of Celestine Omehia as the state's former governor by members of the state House of Assembly.
A bill to no longer recognise Omehia as the previous governor of Rivers State was approved by the legislature yesterday.
Additionally, they demanded that he return all financial benefits that he had received since his status as a former governor was reinstated despite the fact that the Supreme Court had removed him from office as governor after only a few months in office.
When the bill passed by the lawmakers is signed into law by Governor Nyesom Wike today (Friday, October 7) Omehia will have seven days to pay back a total of over N696 million as entitlements paid to him up to September 2022 as former Governor as calculated by the lawmakers.
But the APC, in a press statement signed by its acting Publicity Secretary, Darlington Nwauju, said the recognition of Omehia after he was sacked as governor by the Supreme Court of 25th of October 2007 as itself an act of brazen lawlessness by members of Rivers House of Assembly.
“Rivers State House of 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 then in 2015, it was politically correct to recognise Omehia but with the political realities of today, it’s no longer expedient!”
The party queried why a State Assembly which maliciously disregarded the letters and spirit of the October 25, 2007, judgement, turn around to shamelessly demand that the privileges Omehia enjoyed as a result of its 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?”
APC however warned that 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 Rivers State.
The opposition party lamented that the House of Assembly which should serve as the bastion of democracy and the voice and conscience of Rivers people has been reduced to the Governor’s lackey and attack dog against the Governor’s perceived political enemies.