TheCable

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.

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.

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.

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.