Obi Left Money in State Coffers before Leaving Office, Otti Reveals

The former Managing Director of Diamond Bank Plc and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate in the 2015 election in Abia State, Mr. Alex Otti, has laid to rest, the debate on whether the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, left money or not when in the state coffers.

While delivering the keynote address on the theme: ‘Nigeria Economic Recession: Ways out of the Woods,’ at the eighth annual conference of the Academy for Entrepreneurial Studies at the Nigerian Institute for International Affairs in Lagos yesterday, Otti said all Nigeria needs was a leader who should inspire confidence in the people by doing what leadership required: serving the people and not himself or his people.

He went on to say that a good leader does not need to be reminded that leaders must cut costs, avoid unnecessary expenditure, encourage diversification, among others.

The former Diamond Bank MD said t with Obi’s example, it has been proved that Nigerians can do it. “As the Chairman of Diamond Bank at the time Obi was the governor, I can confirm that he left $50 million each in Diamond Bank, Fidelity and Access Bank.

“I can also confirm that he did not borrow money from any financial institution.

Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the event, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, represented by the former Minister of Health, Prince Julius Adelusi Adeluyi called on the leaders to focus on the people, while calling on Nigerians to intensify prayers for God to have mercy on His people.

Obi who was one of the speakers at the event thanked the organisers for thinking about the good of the country by choosing a topic that is dear to Nigeria and Nigerians. Obi said what Nigeria needed at this time were leaders with conscience to understand that leadership was all about serving and not being served.

Further, Obi said Nigeria had all it takes to become a great nation if only her leaders would spare a moment to reflect on the trajectory successful economies are taking and queue along.