1. Come out of hiding, surrender to EFCC – Ortom tells Yahaya Bello

The former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom has advised the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello to come out of his hiding and surrender himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Ortom gave the advice Sunday at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Regional Headquarter in Makurdi during the thanksgiving service organized by his former appointees to mark his 63rd birthday anniversary.

He said it was improper for the former governor to go into hiding when called upon by the anti graft agency to clarify issues bordering on his tenure as governor.

He noted that the act of evading the invitation of the anti graft agency and trying to flee would bring shame and disgrace to former governors.

Ortom said, “let me use this opportunity to advise my younger brother and friend, former governor Yahaya Bello not to disgrace former governors.

“If you are called to come and account for your stewardship by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, go there.

“You do not need to hide from EFCC, you do not need to resist arrest or anything. Go there and explain. EFCC are human beings who are doing their work.

“If they are making inquiries, the laws are there. I have tried to get him on phone, I could not, I tried those around him, I could not. I want him to note, wherever he is, if he can hear me from there, he should go before the EFCC.”

The former governor who lauded his former appointees for celebrating him at 63 said “I did not know that I am still being appreciated after leaving office. This gesture may make me come out of my hibernation.”
He said being in power as governor for eight years was not an easy task given the challenges and restrictions imposed on you and those who wanted to see you, while in power, by security details.
He said “you live like a prisoner, you are restricted and many people you would want to see, you are unable to see them while those that want to see you will not be able to see you because of the security restriction. And some will hate you thinking it was deliberate.

“I know that it is not everything I did that favoured everyone and it was not everything I did that favoured me also, that is the fact.

“That is why I always encourage everyone of us to pray for leaders, pray for our President, Governors, political office holders and others including the clergy.
We are all prone to make mistakes as human beings because we are not perfect, prayer is very important.”

Alaba Abbey, a campaign coordinator of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo state, has been brutally murdered by gunmen

Mr Abbey, who served as a ward coordinator for the Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organization Foot-Soldiers (LACO-SF), was killed in his hometown of Supare Akoko, Akoko South West Local Government Area, on Saturday.

The Gazette learnt that the deceased was the returning officer for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in his Ward 10 in the recently concluded primary of the governing party.

Samuel Abbey, a younger brother to the deceased, who confirmed the sad development, said that the local politician was shot at the front of his house in Supare, and the family believed it was an assassination.

“It is a sad development, my brother was assassinated in front of his house here in Supare. Our family are in pain right now,” he said.

Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, the spokesperson for the police in Ondo, confirmed the killing of Mr Abbey in a brief chat with reporters in Akure, on Sunday.

Mrs Odunlami-Omisanya revealed that the state command had launched an investigation into the brutal killings.

“We have begun an investigation into the case and we will unravel what led to his killing,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot-Soldiers (LACO-SF) has condemned Mr Abbey’s brutal killing.

The group also called on police authorities in the state to protect its members from brutal attacks by assailants.

In a statement by the spokesperson for the campaign organisation, Kayode Fasua said the late Abbey was actively involved in the campaign activities of Mr Aiyedatiwa until his brutal killing.

Earlier, the Director-General of LACO-FS in Akoko Southwest Local Government, David Ajobiewe, described the killing of Mr Abbey as a big tragedy.

“Excel had been a resourceful coordinator for the Aiyedatiwa campaign organisation in Ward 10 of Supare and was never known to be violent and never had any history of a local or domestic dispute.

“We urge the police authorities to step up investigations into his gruesome murder and bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book,” he said.

The Governor Peter Mbah Administration in Enugu State Government has awarded the contract for the revamping of Hotel Presidential, a premier hotel in the heart of the state’s capital.

The administration also said that it was currently perfecting the terms of agreement for the resuscitation of the state-owned Nigergas Company Limited sequel to a memo by the Enugu State Investment Development Authority in line with Dr. Peter Mbah’s target to rehabilitate, refurbish, and commission all dormant state assets such as Nigergas.

Government made these known after the State Executive Council meeting presided over by the governor at the weekend.

Briefing Government House correspondents, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Aka Eze Aka, and his Culture and Tourism counterpart, Dame Ugochi Madueke, said the moves were in line with the governor’s promise to convert all dormant assets in the state to productive assets.

According to Dame Madueke, revamping of the Presidential Hotel would not only put Enugu State in the world map as the premier destination for investment, tourism and hospitality, but would also create jobs for the teeming youths in the state.

“It is with great joy that I make this announcement because the hotel has been abandoned and had gone moribund over the past years. However, bringing it back to life will not only put our state on the world map again, it will equally create economic value-chain, market, tourism and employment for our youths,” the commissioner stated.

Hotel Presidential was built by the administration of the late premier of the defunct Eastern Region, Dr. Michael Okpara, and opened in 1963. It ran as a prestigious hotel until it became moribund decades after.

Speaking on the Nigergas Company Limited, Mr. Aka observed that the present administration was focused on reviving all moribund industries to create economy of scale for the state, and lead to the state selling its products beyond the East of the Niger.

He said the approval for the revamp of the comatose company was based on a rigorous assessment of many commercial proposals and models presented to the state, establishing a compelling business case and profitability.

On his part, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Enugu State Investment Development Authority, Dr. Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, while throwing more light on the move, said the demand for medical oxygen and industrial gas in the country far outpace the supply, hence the need for the state government to partner a reliable private player with proven integrity and track record to revamp this Nigergas and take advantage of the huge inherent opportunities.

“The “re-engineering, refurbishment, and subsequent commissioning of Nigergas is a deliberate step by the Governor Mbah Administration to provide the much-needed medical oxygen and industrial gas for the South East and the entire country because the country is hugely underserved.

“The profitability profile, commercial and investment have been vetted with prospects of huge profit.

“We have everything on ground, and our timeline to kick off is certain. What remains is the paperwork because we already have the approval of the governor and now that of the State Exco,” he added.

Dr. Nwobodo said the Nigergas Company, would employ over a thousand workers, when resuscitated.

He explained that the move to revamp Nigergas was one in the series of projects aimed at reviving other moribund state-owned enterprises such as Niger Steel Ltd., Sunrise Flour Mills, and the aluminum smelting company at Ohebe Dim.F