Rivers Govt Honours 127, Set to Amend Awards Law
Says Amaechi was indicted
The Rivers State Golden Jubilee celebrations came to a climax at the when the state government honoured 127 distinguished Nigerians who served the state meritoriously in different fields of human endeavour.
It also announced its resolve to ensure that no indicted governor received any automatic honour, learning from the issue concerning the immediate past Governor of the state, Chibuike Amaechi, who was allegedly indicted by a judicial commission of inquiry over the sale of valued assets of the state during the twilight of his administration.
Presenting the awards at the remodelled Multi-Purpose Hall of the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt, the state Governor, Nyesom Wike, said his administration would amend the law to ensure that criminals, no matter their previous positions, do not get honoured by the state.
He pointed out that the immediate past governor was indicted by a judicial commission of inquiry into the sale of the assets of the state, hence he did not merit the award, but was merely included in the list because he was a former governor.
He said: “You will agree with me that any person with such antecedents and formal indictments is not and cannot be a fit and proper person to be bestowed with state honours.
Wike, who spoke against the backdrop of the rejection of the proposed by Amaechi, said: “Permit me to also address the purported rejection of the award by former Governor and current Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi. We are not unaware that there is a subsisting indictment from a Judicial Commission of Inquiry and attendant White Paper in relation to corrupt practices that trailed the hurried sale and management of proceeds of state valued assets in the dying days of his administration.
“Three weeks ago, the Court of Appeal affirmed the validity of that inquiry. You will agree with me that any person that is indicted by a commission of inquiry cannot be a fit and proper person to be bestowed with a state honours.
“Accordingly we queried the nomination of Rotimi Amaechi on that premise but conceded, albeit, reluctantly when we were told that his nomination was fait accompli under the State Honours Law by virtue of his position as a former governor of the state. Now that our unusual magnanimity in the spirit of the Jubilee is unappreciated, we think it is proper to amend the law and safeguard its credibility from being eroded or undermined.”
He said while the awards would hold annually, especially during his administration, only deserving persons who have contributed to the development of the state and its people would be beneficiaries.
The state’s law on honours and awards, Wike said, was enacted under the administration of Dr. Peter Odili, but has not been implemented by past governors.
Some of the awardees were honoured posthumously for their outstanding contributions to the growth of Rivers State at different times.
Wike, who personally presented the awards to the awardees or their representatives, presented three categories of awards to the distinguished personalities. They include: Grand Service Star of Rivers State (GSSRS), Distinguished Service Star of Rivers State (DSSRS) and Governor’s Medal of Honour (GMH).
All civilian and military former governors of the state accepted the award except the immediate past governor of the state, Amaechi, who declined to receive the awards citing personal differences with Wike.
Prominent among the awardees were: Former President Goodluck Jonathan; his wife, Mrs. Patience Jonathan; First Rivers Military Governor, King Alfred Diete-Spiff; Former Rivers State Governor, Dr Peter Odili; Former Rivers State Governor, Chief Rufus Ada George; Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche; and Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara.
The late Governor Melford Okilo, late Ken Saro-Wiwa, late Senator Obi Wali and late Edward Kobani were among those honoured posthumously.