Reasons Why Police Shut Down Benue State Assembly Complex

The Presidency, yesterday, exonerated President Muhammadu Buhari from the impeachment notice served on Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State by eight of the 30 members of the state House of Assembly.

The Presidency’s reaction came as Security Adviser to Governor Ortom, Col. Paul Hemba (retd) quoted the state’s Police Commissioner, Besan Gwana, as saying that the decision to seal off the state House of Assembly was based on order from above.

But the Police Commissioner feigned ignorance of the shut down of the complex, saying he was in Abuja at the time of the closure.

Policemen had earlier in the day sealed the Assembly complex, chasing out civil servants who are staff of the State House of Assembly.

This is even as All Progressives Congress, APC, caucus in the House of Representatives, yesterday, advised their colleagues in Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to probe the alleged role of the police in the impeachment notice served Governor Ortom and push for the House to be reconvened to achieve the purpose.

However, the Presidency described as paranoia allegations by some persons that President Buhari was behind the impeachment saga in the state, adding that the President will not interfere in a state matter that involved the executive and legislature.

Allegations wild, paranoia, says Presidency:-

A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, in Abuja read: “Even while attending the ECOWAS/ECCAS Summit in Togo, strident attempts were 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.

“President Buhari will always stand by all that is noble and fair, and will reject attempts to drag him into infamy.”

Meanwhile, workers at Benue State House of Assembly were yesterday chased out of their offices and duty posts by stern-looking armed police personnel who also sealed up the Assembly complex.