Benue Governor says impeachment notice against him proves Nigeria is a 'shithole' country

Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, has blasted the eight members of the Benue State House of Assembly who have decided to serve him an impeachment notice, noting that the ridiculousness of the situation proves the country is a shithole.

On Monday, July 30, 2018, impeached Speaker of the House, Terkimbi Ikyange, led seven other members, who belong to the All Progressives' Congress (APC), to accuse Ortom of embezzling N22 billion from security votes and N32 billion from local government funds, while neglecting to pay the salaries of workers and pensioners.

The lawmakers took over the House of Assembly complex reportedly with the help of police officers who prevented the other 22 lawmakers of the 30-member House from gaining entry into the legislative chamber.

After Monday's plenary, Ikyange said the notice of impeachment will be communicated to the governor in seven days.

In response to the resolution of the Ikyange faction, Ortom held a press conference in Makurdi, the state capital, to ridicule the entire process that led to it.

He said it could only possibly happen in a shithole country, a remark that was allegedly made by United States president, Donald Trump, in describing African countries back in January.

Ortom said, "The impeached speaker and other principal officers paraded themselves in a flagrant disobedience of the Makurdi High Court's order that they should not do so until the substantive matter was held. As law-abiding citizens, that is what we encourage.

"Without the Clerk of the House, an eight-member senate suspended 22 members. It's only in a shithole country that you can see this kind of thing.

"The same members, without forming a quorum, claimed to, illegally, move a motion to serve an impeachment notice on me. It doesn't make any sense."

Ortom calls on Buhari to caution IGP

The governor also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to rein in the impunity of the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, for using the instrument of state to meddle in Benue State's politics.

He said, "Police detachment from Abuja on the directives of Akume, IG and DG SSS forcefully allowed the eight members to occupy the House of Assembly despite the court injunction restraining the impeached Speaker from parading himself as the Speaker.

"Whereas Police sent away the 22 members last Friday when they wanted to sit, today, the same Police provided security for the eight members. As a law-abiding citizen, I believe in the rule of law and I will pursue it to tackle this illegality.

"Is it an offence to join any party of my choice? I appeal to Mr. President to rise and protect our democracy."

Governor Ortom dumped the APC for PDP on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. He disclosed that he was joining the PDP to ensure justice, equity and fairness for the people of Benue.