Christopher Oji
A former executive director, marketing communication, of Globacom, Mr. Okon Iyanam, was on Wednesday shot dead at his Heritage Hotels and Resorts in Mowe, Ogun State.
Elder brother to the deceased ,Victor Iyanam, who confirmed the death, said that a birthday party was going on at the hotel and the former Globacom staff was resting when the gunmen came at about 12.30am.
He said the gunmen shot indiscriminately as they arrived and asked for the owner of the hotel: “When he was identified, they shot him at close range in the neck and he died on the spot. It is with a heavy heart that I announce the tragic death of my brother, Okon, in the early hours of Wednesday, June 27.
“Okonpapa had just recently opened his new Heritage Hotels and Resorts, where he spent most of his time trying to stabilise the management and sales techniques. He reported a successful ongoing venture.
“While a birthday party was going on in the hotel, some men, suspected to be either armed robbers or hired assassins, crashed into the place at about 12.30am. They asked for the owner. When he was eventually identified, he was shot at close range in the neck region. He stood no chance. He died instantly.
“The police have deposited his body in a morgue. I rushed to Lagos upon the information delivered to me and confirmed for myself the level of wickedness anybody could deliver to a man whose only crime was working hard for his livelihood.
“Okonpapa graduated from the University of Calabar in 1986. He started his career with UAC Foods immediately after his NYSC in 1987. Thereafter, he worked across almost all sectors of the economy. He worked with Akwa Ibom State government-owned Peacock Paints, serving as the marketing manager in Lagos; “33” Export Lager Beer, serving as the area manager, Makurdi; Glo GSM Network, as pioneer marketing manager but later elevated to the position of chief operating officer and eventually left Glo as executive director, sales and marketing.
“He, at some point, also served as the chief marketing officer, V-Mobile.
“Okon retired to consulting and, later, farming in Mowe and Katsina. The Heritage Hotel was his latest and now last venture.
“He was interested in the governorship of Akwa Ibom State and first used the platform of the PDP. When this was not possible, he bought the gubernatorial ticket on the platform of the Accord Party. He was a consummate marketer and social commentator. He loved the Internet and used it effectively as a vehicle for the propagation of his ideas on wide strata of subjects. He was aged 52. We shall all miss him.”