Impeachment Saga: Buhari Blasts Jonathan

Former military Head of State and leader of opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), has lambasted President Goodluck Jonathan over the gale of impeachments ostensibly masterminded by his government across the country.



Buhari was reacting to the impeachment of APC Governor, Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State and the impending impeachment of another APC governor, Tanko Almakura of Nassarawa State. There are rumours also that Edo Governor, Adams Oshiomhole and his Rivers State counterpart, Rotimi Amaechi, both APC governors, would be impeached.

Buhari described the action of the ruling party as impunity and polical rascality, warning that Nigerians had defeated impunity before and they would do so again.


The former presidential candidate, posted the statement on his facebook page on Wednesday

According to Buhari, “what we are witnessing today, impunity and political rascality as demonstrated by the selective targeting and persecution of opposition politicians, is an attempt to subdue the will of Nigerians who have made clear their commitment to free their country from the grip of an incompetent leadership that is bent on severing the ties of nationhood and ruining whatever progress we have made as a country.

“These actions portray a government that has run out of ideas, resorting to arbitrariness and executive criminality in order to silence dissent. Nigeria has been through this road before. This is a replay of the selective persecution using instruments of federal might in an attempt by previous regimes to perpetuate themselves in power.”

Buhari further stated that “these regimes are now history, subdued by the collective struggle of the Nigerian masses. It is only a matter of time before this administration joins its predecessors in the garbage bin of history.

“Nigerians have defeated impunity before, and they have not relented in their determination to stamp it out in the future. The primary role of government is to fulfill its constitutional obligations to the citizenry and not go on a witch-hunting spree against the opposition and whoever dares to expose its lies and deceptions.”

Meanwhile, the Police Command in Nasarawa State on Wednesday beefed up security in major towns following youths protest over the House of Assembly’s notice of impeachment served on Governor Tanko Almakura.

The command’s spokesman, ASP Ismaila Numan, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that some youths in Lafia, Mararaba and Keffi came out to protest over the notice of impeachment on Almakura.

Numan, however, said the police dispersed them before it could get out of control in all the affected towns.

He said no life or property was lost and that policemen had been deployed to strategic locations to forestall any breach of the peach.

“We have also intensified patrol across the nooks and crannies of the state to ensure the security of lives and property,” Numan said.

He assured members of the public of adequate protection, and urged them to go about their normal business without fear of molestation.

NAN reports that some youths took to the streets in Lafia on Wednesday morning chanting solidarity slogans in support of Al-Makura.

The youths set bonfires in strategic areas, including Emir Palace Road, Doma Road, Keffi-Mararaba Road, and had attempted to block the federal highway before the police intervened.

NAN reports that the youths carried placards with various inscriptions.

The protest also resulted in heavy gridlock on Keffi-Abuja Road with youths calling on the state legislators to rescind their action.

NAN recalls that the Assembly had on Monday directed that Almakura be served with notice of impeachment for alleged gross misconduct.

The Nasawara State legislators are expected to serve the governor the impeachment notice through alternate service Thursday.

The national Chairman of APC, Chief Odigie Oyegun, said Wednesday at a press conference in Abuja that it was wrong for the lawmakers in Adamawa State House of Assembly to impeach Nyako for the perceived sins he committed five years ago while he was still in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

He also denounced the witch-hunting of the opposition by the President Jonathan administration.