Security beefed up at Benue Assembly over reports of Speaker, Governor’s impeachment

STERN looking security men comprises of police SSS yesterday barricaded the entrance into Benue Assembly complex.

Rumours of  plan to impeach the speaker, Hon ‘Terkibir Ikyange and the state governor, Samuel Ortom had since the rift between Senator George Akume and the state governor, Samuel Ortom has spread like fire during harmattan.

The security men have to scrutinise those going into the complex while many were turned back.

The presence of security men at the state assembly however triggered tension just as the state Governor sacked the chairman of Benue state Internal Revenue Service and General Manager of Urban Development; Mrs Mimi Orubibi and Richard Abua.

However, the speaker adjourned sitting on August 15, 2018.

While speaking with newsmen after the session, the speaker debunked the rumour making the round that he was to be impeached or the house is to impeach the governor.

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The speaker said: “the house as an institution has members that represent various constituencies, and by extension and the house has the way it conducts its business.

“But as much as I can tell you, over the three years, there has never been any cause to worry over an issue we have been working together and there is perfect understanding particularly between the leadership and other members of the house.

“And there hasn’t been any reason for us to disagree, but there has been little political instability particularly in the APC for the past few weeks so to speak, just some little disagreement among various interest group.

“Since the House of Assembly is made up of members of different political parties, particularly, APC in control there is the likelihood of agitation and that is not enough to constitute any wrangling but just last week the members passed vote of confidence in me.

While speaking on the presence of security operatives, the speaker said that they were there to ensure adequate security in the assembly complex.

He said: “security agencies that were here are just to ensure there should not be disagreement that will result to some kind of crisis there is no plan to impeach me or the governor of the state as being speculated as a matter of fact just two weeks ago the assembly passed the vote of confidence in me.

When asked of the purported move to impeach the governor, Ikyange said, there was no iota of truth in it.

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The speaker said that the process of impeaching the state executive was not a tea party, but has to follow due process.

“The assembly has full respect for the governor and we are in support of him, there is nothing to suggest that the house is planning to impeach the governor,” Ikyange said.