Nigeria’s presidency has stated that all those who have insinuated that President Muhammadu Buhari may have a hand in the impeachment of Governor Samuel Ortom may be suffering from paranoia.
President Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adesina noted that attempts were being made to drag President Muhammadu Buhari into the unfolding drama between the executive and the legislature in Benue.
Adesina added that, “President Buhari will always stand by all that is noble and fair, and will reject attempts to drag him into infamy”.
Saraki and Dogara had earlier issued a statement suggesting that Presidency was turning a blind eye to the happenings in Benue.
“It also represents how the Nigeria Police are being misused to achieve political end. In a statement recently, the Presidency derisively referred to an era in the past where a minority number of legislators was used to impeach Governors who were unfriendly with the federal government. What we are seeing in Benue now is a return to that inglorious era.
“We believe this unlawful and unconstitutional move to impeach Governor Samuel Ortom by a minority should be condemned by all lovers of democracy, at home and abroad. We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the police to order and prevent a break-down of law and order,” the duo said in a statement.
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On Monday, eight members of the Benue Assembly – all members of the ruling APC – threatened to begin an impeachment proceedings against Governor Samuel Ortom.
Ortom recently switched from the APC to the main opposition party, PDP, along with 22 members of the state legislature.
In response to insinuations that Buhari was behind the impeachment, Adesina said, “Even while attending the ECOWAS/ECCAS Summit in Togo, strident attempts were being made to drag President Muhammadu Buhari into the unfolding drama between the executive and the legislature in Benue State.
“Statements have been issued by different interest groups, insinuating that the President may have a hand in the development in Benue.
“This is paranoia at its worst, coming from people who have wittingly positioned themselves against the clean-up of the country, and the way we do things. They prefer business as usual.
“President Buhari will never be part of any unconstitutional act, and any attempt to link him with the inglorious past, when minority number of lawmakers impeached governors, will not stick.
“It will simply be like water off the duck’s back. Those with open minds know this, but those who cavil would rather source everything untoward to the President.
“It is murky ground in which they are now marooned, as fallout of their resistance to change in the country.
“When it suits them, they preach separation of powers and true federalism, and in another breath, they call on the President to interfere brazenly in affairs at state level.
“President Buhari will always stand by all that is noble and fair, and will reject attempts to drag him into infamy.
“People who stoke fires by deliberate acts of omission or commission, and then summon the President to come and put it out will find that this President will be guided by the constitution at all times, no matter the attempt to entangle him in unwarranted controversies.
