package g++-4.8 4.8.4-2ubuntu1~14.04.3 failed to install/upgrade: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting a removal

it is unstable and needs to be reinstalled but i am unable to do so

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: g++-4.8 4.8.4-2ubuntu1~14.04.3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-101.148-generic 3.13.11-ckt39
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-101-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.1
Architecture: amd64
Date: Mon Oct 24 19:25:05 2016
DpkgTerminalLog:
 dpkg: error processing package g++-4.8 (--remove):
  package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should
  reinstall it before attempting a removal
ErrorMessage: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting a removal
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-01-14 (1015 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04.3 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release amd64 (20130820.1)
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.4ubuntu1.1
 apt 1.2.14
SourcePackage: gcc-4.8
Title: package g++-4.8 4.8.4-2ubuntu1~14.04.3 failed to install/upgrade: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting a removal
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to xenial on 2016-10-24 (0 days ago)