Come out of hiding, don’t disgrace ex-governors - Ortom tells Yahaya Bello

Samuel Ortom, former Benue Governor

Former Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, has publicly called out the immediate past governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello, following his issues with the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

On Sunday, April 28, 2024, Ortom during a thanksgiving service organized by his aides to mark his 63rd birthday anniversary asks Bello to come out of hiding and answer his case.

According to him, his continuous hiding would bring disgrace to former governors across the country.

He revealed that all attempts to reach Bello have proved futile, as he urged the former governor to come out and defend his administration, saying that guilty people only run when they have something to hide.

Ortom 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 enquiries, the laws are there. I have tried to get him on the phone, but I could not. I have tried those around him, but I could not do so. I want this to be noted. So, wherever he is, if he can hear me, thank God the press is here, he should come out.”

Ortom also hailed the people of Benue state for their support all through his eight years in office. Adding that it was not an easy task and called on the people to always pray for their leaders.

He urged the youths to desist from raining insults at their leaders on social media rather they should use the same medium to better their lives and bring development to the state.

He said, “Do not insult the leaders or elders on social media. We all must be part of the process to bring peace so that progress, prosperity and development will come. The youth must take advantage of social media to bring development to themselves and to the state.

“The whole world is in your palms, in your tablets and on 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 order to be part of the world and to add value and bring wealth to yourselves.”