“This is one of the advantages of having men of integrity, prudence and financial literacy to manage the affairs of state like Abia”
In a carnival like reception during the visit of Mr. Peter Obi, Labour Party Presidential candidate to Abia state capital, Umuahia on invitation as Special Guest of Honor to the annual Scholarship Award presentation by the Alex Otti Foundation (AOF) Mr. Peter Obi spoke extensively on the pedigree of the founder of AOF, as a man who has invested so much in education and human capacity development in the state since retirement from the corporate business sector where he held sway and grew one of Nigeria’s most credible and dependable financial institution (Diamond Bank now Access Bank) as GMD and CEO.
This year had about 30 successful students of various institutions including non Abia state indigens whom are residents in the state awarded full scholarship into any university of their choice.
Mr. Peter Obi described Alex Otti, the Abia state Labour Party gubernatorial candidate as a man with prudent asset management and a man he found worthy to manage Anambra state treasury when he was the Anambra state governor.
It is on record that as the head of the apex financial institution, Alex Otti had prudently midwifed an investment at the tune of $155million by the Anambra state government that grew to an estimated volume of about N62b equivalent at maturity in 2019 while other state government were lavishing their state resources.
“People of Abia state cannot afford to miss this golden opportunity both fate and God almighty has granted them
More so, Alex Otti grew the fortunes of the bank and led Diamond Bank through a major transformation including boosting annual earnings, staff strength and management of the financial institution which compelled the bank to renew his tenure after expiration before he voluntarily retired to venture into politics.
Speaking with the State Publicity Secretary of Labour Party, Mr. Njoku Jeremiah Ajike, he declared; “This is one of the advantages of having men of integrity, prudence and financial literacy to manage the affairs of state like Abia, a state reckoned for industry and commerce but has been reduced to a pariah situation by individuals with very shallow knowledge about statecraft and administrative acumen. People of Abia state cannot afford to miss this golden opportunity both fate and God almighty has granted them, if you had listened carefully or followed precedents that has brought us all this far, you will find out that Alex Otti used to write a column on Thisday newspapers back page and in 2020, he had written an article where he extolled the triumph of Mr. Peter Obi over profligacy and reckless governance by men who do not possess the character and competence to manage such sensitive matters as leadership of state.” This was at a time both men were not members of Labour party, how fortune and fate has brought such characters of integrity and prudence together in a single political party of the ordinary working-class Nigerians can only be declared as an act of God,” said Mr. Njoku
“Mr. Peter Obi will be better off working with trusted lieutenants like Alex Otti, the visit today has confirmed the great expectation of Abians and all the labour party candidates”
The event which had all the stakeholders and prominent candidates of Labour party in Abia state in attendance at the Mater Dei Cathedral Umuahia was almost converted to a campaign ground but was cut short with the departure of the Special guest to Imo State to continue in his consultation visits across various states of the federation.
Abia State Deputy Coordinator for House2House for Perter Obi, Barrister Okey Okereke, commenting on the visit of the Presidential candidate to Umuahia said; “From the look of things, Mr. Peter Obi will be better off working with trusted lieutenants like Alex Otti, the visit today has confirmed the great expectation of Abians and all the labour party candidates present here in Abia state in order to give us a firm hold of conscientious and competent leadership both at the state and at the national.
