A few days ago, the celebrated and cerebral former governor of Anambra state and Labour Party Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi was in Umuahia for the Annual Alex Otti Foundation Scholarship Banquet for undergraduates.

 

By. Ferdinand Ekeoma.

 

In one of his finest moments, renowned American statesman and former President, Abraham Lincoln submitted that “One mark of a great man is his power and ability to leave one lasting impression on the people he meets”

 

A few days ago, the celebrated and cerebral former governor of Anambra state and Labour Party Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi was in Umuahia for the Annual Alex Otti Foundation Scholarship Banquet for undergraduates.

 

Beaming with smile while speaking to his audience, Obi who is not given to pouring undeserved encomium on undesirable elements, no matter how highly placed, took a brief moment of his time to praise his long time friend and ally, Dr. Alex Otti OFR.

 

In an emotion laden voice, Obi described Otti as an Astute Manager with proven capacity. He recalled his days as Anambra state governor, and disclosed that it was because of the confidence and trust he reposed in Otti as the then GMD/CEO of Diamond bank that made him hand over 50 Million Dollars and 12 Billion naira respectively of Anambra money to Otti to be  saved in Diamond bank for Ndi Anambra.

 

Prior to now, Obi had had reasons to celebrate and appreciate Alex Otti for not only ensuring that those funds were well secured in the then Diamond bank, but for being courageous enough to publicly defend him and admit that he Obi actually left such funds, even when there were politically motivated attempts by Obi’s successor and opponents to deny it.

 

Being a man that’s rich in knowledge of the economy, synonymous with frugality, and grounded in facts and figures, Obi knew that he didn’t just need to save Anambra’s funds for the rainy days, but that he needed to do it with a man he knew his antecedents and trusted his character and capacity; that man was Alex Otti.

 

In a widely read article written two years ago and published in his Thisday Column captioned “The Triumph of Profligacy Over Prudence”, Otti had paid deserving tribute to Mr. Obi for his leadership accomplishments, managerial acumen and pro people sense of frugality which enabled him transform Anambra and write his name in gold.

 

As at the time Otti wrote the said article of tribute, he and Obi belonged to different political parties, but like the ex bank Chief pointed out in the article, one factor that knows no party,, is truth.

 

Today, the truth Dr. Alex Otti knew about Mr. Peter Obi for many years and wrote about two years ago has been made manifest to millions of Nigerians who have today become Obidient.

 

On the other hand, the Labour Party presidential candidate finds it very easy to stand without blinking an eyelid to speak so eloquently about Alex Otti whom he knows and cherishes his character and capabilities.

 

As providence would have it, these two allies and egg heads are now in the same political party,the Labour Party where they are working with symbiotic spirit of excellence in their patriotic quest to redeem and restore Abia state and Nigeria respectively.

 

It’s hoped that other patriotic Abians and Nigerians would queue behind them to ensure  that a new Abia and Nigeria are heralded for the good of all.