The Kaduna State chapter of the Igede Nation in Diaspora (IND) wednesday called for the sack of the Inspector General of Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris, accusing him of undermining democracy in Nigeria.
Speaking against the backdrop of the recent impeachment notice served the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, by eight lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state assembly, Chairman of the group, Mr. Sunday Oibe, said the role played by the police in the crisis is condemnable and the IG should be held responsible.
The police were said to have provided security to the eight lawmakers who sat and serve the impeachment notice to the governor.
Oibe said the police, under Idris leadership, have become partisan in politics, adding that the Benue people should be allowed to solve their political problems by themselves.
He said President Muhammadu Buhari‘s denials that he was not the mastermind of the undemocratic action is not enough if the IG is not sacked.
According to him, “The Igede people in diaspora rise in condemnation against the undemocratic action in Benue State where eight lawmakers gave the state Governor, Ortom, impeachment notice.
“We call on the federal government to allow the people of the state to solve their problems. We are not satisfied with the denial and condemnation of President Buhari that he is not involved or that he doesn’t know anything happening in the state.
“He should step up his game by immediately sacking the IG.”
Oibe further said: “The police are supposed to be apolitical. What we are witnessing in this present administration is that the police and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) have become political tools for blackmailing and witch hunting of political opponents.
“This is very dangerous for our democracy. The rule of law is the ink that drives the machinery of democracy everywhere in the world.
“If a court of competent jurisdiction makes a pronouncement only for eight lawmakers to be encouraged by the police to take over the state House of Assembly and do a kangaroo sitting and serve the governor an impeachment notice, it is a joke taken too far.
“We the Igede nation in Kaduna condemn this assault on democracy, and we urge Ortom not to lose his sleep about the matter.
“We call on Nigerians and the international community to know that should anything happen, leading to the breakdown of law and order in Benue State, the federal government should be held responsible.
“Since President Buhari has condemned the action of the eight lawmakers, we are using this medium to ask him to sack the IG for such lawlessness and politicking because it is dangerous and unhealthy for our democracy.”
