Ortom on impeachment notice: Now I know why Nigeria is a shithole country

Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue state, says he now knows why President Donald Trump said there are “shithole countries” in Africa.

Washington Post had attributed the controversial comment to Trump but the US leader denied using those words.

While reacting to the impeachment notice which eight lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) served on him, Ortom said 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).

He accused the inspector-general of police and director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS) of perpetuating evil, appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to call them to order.

Ortom also alleged that George Akume, a serving senator in the state, was behind the political crisis in Benue.

“Today, I’ve realised why Donald Trump called Nigeria or Africa a shithole. I want to believe that Mr President is not aware of what is taking place in Benue state because as president who swore to uphold the rule of law and due process, and who is referred to as a man of integrity, a man of honour and who respects the constitution of our land, I’m sure he is not aware of the impunity and ignominy that is being perpetrated by the inspector general of police and the DG of DSS,” he said.

“For me, I will continue to do my duty at all times. The action of the agents actively supported by the police and DSS, the actions of the eight members of the house of assembly against 22 who are legitimately doing their jobs has demonstrated the highest level of hooliganism and ignominy.

“The police detachment from Abuja acting on the directives of Senator George Akume and the IGP and DSS, forcibly occupying the assembly in flagrant disobedience of court order to vacate the premises.

“The police barred and stopped the 22 members of the Benue state house of assembly from entering the assembly premises to conduct their legitimate duties and manhandled citizens who were going top watch the proceedings. They teargassed many and took them away.

“The same police provided heavy security escorts to the eight members who came to perpetrate the impunity, and led them away to their destination. Eight members seem to have suspended 22 members. It is only in a shithole counmtry that you can do this kind of thing.”

He said Terkimbi ikyange, impeached speaker, paraded himself in flagrant disobedience to the court order that he should not do so until the matter is heard.

“The same members claim to have illegally moved a motion to serve an impeachment notice on me. Eight members cannot be two/third of 30 members of the assembly. An impeachment notice that I’ve not seen anyway , but that is what I heard,” he said.

“I want to believe in the rule of law and will deploy legal process to tackle this form of challenge. We are not going into any kind of illegality and that is what democracy is all about. We will continue to protect the democracy that we have in this country.

“I call on patriotic Nigerians to rise and resist this impunity. What is my offence? Have I not got the right to decide to associate with any political association of my choice? Is it the first time we are doing that? Even in America, defection is not a crime, so I want to call on Mr President to protect this democracy that made him president.

“This form of impunity will only derail the democratic process that we have. Mr President should not allow this. The IGP should not be allowed to be used by Senator Akume to perpetrate evil.

“So, if Akume is recruited to destabilise to bring people to destabilise this government, he should be called to order.

“Now I know why Trump called Nigeria a shithole country. It’s only in a shithole country that eight house of assembly members can suspend 22 lawmakers.”