Ortom's offence is his principled defence for Benue people - Middle Belt Forum condemns attempted impeachment of governor

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- A Middle Belt Forum has warned against repealing the Benue state anti-grazing law

- According to the forum, there are plans by the federal government to instigate lawlessness with the planned impeachment of the governor in order to declare a state of emergency in Benue

- The forum also called for the sack of the inspector general of police

The Middle Belt Forum has alleged that there are plans by the federal government to repeal the anti-grazing law bill in Benue state.

MBF on Tuesday, July 31, said also accused the federal government of a conspiracy to impeach the Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, with a view to repealing the anti-open-grazing law in operation in the state.

The forum also said that the present administration is instigating lawlessness and anarchy with the planned impeachment of the governor in order to declare a state of emergency in the state.

Speaking during a press conference in Abuja, the president of the MBF, Pogu Bitrus, said the attempt by eight lawmakers to impeach the governor posed a threat to democracy.

Bitrus said: “Ortom’s ‘offence’ apparently appears to be his principled defence of the people of Benue State, which is his constitutional duty as chief security officer, from the sustained onslaught of herdsmen.

“The passage of the Anti-Open-Grazing law by the State House of Assembly which His Excellency assented to and has begun its implementation has been a bitter pill for the herdsmen to swallow and they have via their organisations, Miyetti Allah Kautal Horre and Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, MACBAN, threatened to make the state ungovernable," Bitrus said.

It would appear that the federal government is implementing an avowed agenda of Miyetti Allah” by creating crisis to the disadvantage of Benue people.

“The police takeover of the State House of Assembly to facilitate the conduct of proceedings by a minority eight members is calculated to instigate lawlessness, precipitate crisis and killings and use that as an excuse to declare a state of emergency in Benue state.

“We demand that President Buhari, should immediately rein in the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, and direct him to recall all his men and women from illegal and unconstitutional conduct that can lead to breakdown of law and order in Benue state.

“Benue people, in particular and the entire people of Middle Belt in general, will perceive any breakdown of law and order by this illegality as a declaration of war on the people of the Middle Belt by the federal government," he said.

While calling on President Buhari to sack IGP Idris, Bitrus said: “President Buhari should immediately remove the IGP.

The role of the Police under Idris in an attempt to unconstitutionally change leadership of the National Assembly and their role in Benue saga are all steps that can inevitably lead to collapse of our democracy.

“This IGP lacks the mien and comportment to command a civil Police Force under a democratic dispensation," Bitrus added.

The group also charged Benue state indigenes, Middle Belt and Nigerians in general remain vigilant and to rise and defend our hard-earned democracy.

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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that Governor Ortom said he has understood why US President Donald Trump claimed that there are “shithole countries” in Africa.

Ortom while reacting to the impeachment notice which eight lawmakers of the APC served on him such a thing would only happen in a “shithole country.”

The governor said he was being targetted for moving to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Nigeria News: Buhari Reacted To APC Senators’ Betrayal | NAIJ.com TV