By Ogli Aboje, Makurdi
Immediate past Governor of Benue state, Chief Samuel Ortom, has appealed to his Kogi State counterpart, former Governor Yahaya Bello, to come out of hiding and and answer his case with the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC.
Chief Ortom gave this advise on Sunday at the Redeemed Church in Makurdi during the thanksgiving service organized by his aides for his 63rd birthday.
According to Chief Ortom, Yahaya Bello’s continued hiding will bring disgrace to former governors across the country.
The former Governor who had urged his former appointees to always come forward and give account of their stewardship when called upon said they can only run when they have something to hide.
He said, “I want to use this opportunity to advise my younger brother and friend, Governor Yahaya Bello not to disgrace former governors.
“You don’t need to hide, you don’t need to resist arrest or anything. Go there and respond. EFCC are human beings. If they are making inquiries, the laws are there. I have tried to get him on phone, I could not, I have tried those around him, I could not so I want that to be noted. So wherever he is, if he can hear me, thank God the press is here, he should come out.”
Ortom who appreciated the Benue people for their support throughout his eight years tenure and for celebrating him on his birthday said he thought he has been left to be alone after office.
He said being at the top for eight years was not an easy task and called on the people to pray for their leaders.
Ortom urged Benue youths to quit insulting the elders on social media and instead take advantage of the internet to add value to their lives and bring development to Benue
Ortom who urged the youths not to waste 24 hours on the social media for nothing said, “Do not insult the leaders or elders on social media. We all must be part the process to bring peace so that progress, prosperity and development will come.
“The youth must take advantage of the social media to bring development to themselves and to the state.
“The whole world is in your palm, in your tablets and in your phone. Look at the essence of the internet. Now that you cannot go to the farms, go to the website and see what people are doing in other parts of the world and to add value and bring wealth to yourselves,” he said.
He expressed gratitude to God for his mercies over his life and family saying he left Government House a better Christian and that he would continue to be and worship in the house of God.
In their remarks, the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mike Aondakaa, Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state, John Ngbede, Senator Abba Moro, former Governor Gabriel Suswam, the Tor Tiv, among other dignitaries appreciated ex Governor Ortom for his dogged fight for the security of the people and prayed God to give him more opportunities to continue to contribute to the peace and development of the state.