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Some eminent persons including the former president Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Nyesom Wike and former governor Peter Odili were among 127 people bestowed with awards yesterday at an event marking the golden jubilee of the creation of Rivers State.
In his address, the state governor noted that the award was in recognition of the various contributions of the awardees to the growth and development of the state.
The state also honoured former military administrators that had presided over the affairs of the old state at various in its history, before Bayelsa State was carved out of it.
They Alfred Diete Spiff, Dauda Komo, Shehu Musa, Anthony Ukpor, Ernest Adeleye, Group Captain Samson Ewang. In the same vein, former civilian governors, Chief Rufus George and Sir Celestine Omehia were also given awards even as Dame Patience Jonathan, wife of the former president was honoured.
Other notable personalities honoured include: late Harold Dappa Biriye, Ken Saro Wiwa and Elechi Amadi.
Former governor and current Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who was conspicuously absent had in a statement rejected the award given to him, and described it as a poisoned chalice.
