Buhari’s order: You may face ICC, Ortom warns military

Tunde Opalana, Abuja

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has warned the Nigerian military that obeying the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari to shoot intended ballot snatchers in the coming polls will amount to perpetrating extra-judicial murder and  can lead to prosecution of culpable military personnel at the International Court of Justice (ICC). This followed President Buhari’s statement at the National Executive Council Meeting of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that anyone caught snatching ballot boxes will pay with his life and his charge to the military to deal ruthlessly with ballot box snatchers. Governor Ortom who addressed the press in Abuja on Tuesday before the 84th Emergency meeting of the National Executive Council meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) warned the military against such unprofessional conduct but stick to the rules of engagement during the conduct of the coming elections. He said he or the PDP does not condone election malpractices but insisted that due process must be followed in dealing with deviants of electoral laws. The Governor stated that “It is unfortunate that Nigeria is gradually drifting to a banana republic where no rule of law is respected and observed. “A government that was elected democratically is gradually turning into a dictatorship. It is unfortunate for our own President to come out and disregard the provisions of the laws of the land and give orders for extra-judicial killings in the state and torture against innocent Nigerians. “Let me say unequivocally that I am completely against the rigging of any form by any political party. It is wrong and we do not need that. “For me, I did not rig election to become governor. But the truth of the matter is that we have laws. And I expect that Mr. President who is the chief custodian of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should protect our constitution and the laws of the land. It is unfortunate that Mr President gave that order. “I was just reading from the social media the reaction of the military that they are going to obey the directives of Mr President to the letter. It is unfortunate. This cannot stand, this cannot hold. “I want to advise those who are in the military, police and the other security agencies that they should know that they are also Nigerians. Today, they are serving the public; tomorrow they will not be there. Maybe some of them will become politicians like some of us are. “It has happened in the past and it will happen again. And I also want to remind them that the day of reckoning will definitely come when they will be alone to give account of their stewardship. “So, I want to advise them to respect the rules of engagement based on the laws of the land. No matter the directives of Mr President. The police, army, DSS and all other security agencies should be professional rather than taking arbitrary directives. This is not correct. In a democratic set up, things must be done rightly.” Ortom berated President Buhari for giving a blanket order to security agencies to deal ruthlessly with Nigerians, saying “It will not be accepted and we are going to contest this.  “To the security agencies, I want them to know that beyond Nigeria, there is International Criminal Court. And when you finish your tenure, you will still be liable. If you do that which is wrong, Mr President will not be there tomorrow to protect you. So, they have to be mindful. We must protect the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, otherwise none of us will be safe again including the President. “ On the postponement of the presidential and National Assembly elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Governor said it was not acceptable. He further said: “Something was wrong. It wasn’t the fault of anyone. If you give blame, you should give it to INEC. Planning for more than three years and coming to tell us that you postpone the election two hours to the time of election. It is not acceptable anywhere. “For us, we are calling on Nigerians to be law-abiding because this election must take place. And it must be free, transparent and fair to ensure that we usher in credible leaders that will take us to the Promised Land. We should not do anything that will disrupt this election. “We support the President as far as standing against rigging. I have told my people in Benue State that there is no room for rigging and I will be against anyone that attempts to rig the election. “I know that the APC are planning to give soldiers and other security agencies to APC supporters to intimidate others. We are not going to accept this. “Let it be known to every Nigerian that some of us are prepared to spill our last blood for ensuring that this democracy is sustained for the sake of Nigerians and posterity.”