Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, has formally restored the entitlements and benefits of Celestine Omehia as a former governor of the state.
Wike said Omehia deserves being acknowledged for occupying the topmost office in the state between May 29, 2007 and October 25, 2007.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Omehia winner of the April 14 2007 gubernatorial election and he was sworn into office in May but the supreme court subsequently annulled his election.
In its ruling, the apex court held that Rotimi Amaechi, who won the primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under whose platform Omehia contested, should be sworn into office.
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The PDP had substituted Amaechi with Omehia as a result of allegations of graft leveled against Amaechi.
The development made Amaechi not to recognise his kinsman – Amaechi and Omehia are from Ubima in Ikwerre local government area of the state – throughout his two terms in office.
But on Thursday, Wike reinstated the official portrait of Omehia in the lineup of former governors at the executive council chamber of the government house in Port Harcourt.
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Speaking at a ceremony, which had Omehia in attendance, Wike accused Amaechi of personalising governance, saying he would take a different approach.
He said Omehia had been denied of his benefits for a long period.
“I hereby put back his official portrait among those of former governors. He is now entitled to the benefits of all former governors, ” he said, adding that “the era of politics of bitterness in Rivers State is effectively over”.
Responding, Omehia described Thursday as the most historic day of his political career.
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He said the restoration of his rights as a former governor signifies an end of “his dark political days”.
Kenneth Kobani, secretary to the state government; Emma Okah, commissioner for housing and Chinwe Aguma, the attorney-general of the state, witnessed the occasion.
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