Why Buhari should not be suspected as having a hand in Benue impeachment drama - Adesina

macfranc007 July 31, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Naija news 24/7 Onyirioha Nnamdi

- Femi Adesina, the special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, on media and publicity, has said that the presidency has no hand in the crisis rocking Benue state

- This came as there was an unfolding drama between the executive and legislative arms of the state government recently

- The tension stems from the move by some members of the state House of Assembly to impeach Governor Samuel Ortom

Femi Adesina, the special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, on Tuesday, July 31, said that with with the impeachment move against Governor Ortom of Benue by some members of the legislature, many groups and detractors of the presidency have made a lot of indicting comments against the head of states, falsely accusing him of having a hand in the political tension ravaging the state.

Adesina said that neither the president nor the presidency can stoop so low as to get involved in such unconstitutional activity. And as such, he said that there is no need to suspect the president.

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.

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"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."

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com reported that eight out of 30 lawmakers in Benue state House of Assembly had reportedly served an impeachment notice on Governor Samuel Ortom.

Tahav Agerzua, a spokesperson for Governor Ortom told Premium Times at 10 am on Monday, July 30 that the eight lawmakers had also taken over the premises of the state parliament with the alleged support of the police.

“They have taken over the House of Assembly and served the governor an impeachment notice despite a court order forbidding them from doing so,” Agerzua said.

APC chieftains in Benue state say PDP has nothing to offer - On NAIJ.com TV