Abia Monarchs Divided Over Diamond Bank Boss, Alex Otti's Governorship Ambition

…Says He is Not An Ngwa Son
Controversy has trailed the alleged governorship ambition of the Group

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Bank PLC, Dr.

Alex Otti.
For months, rumours have been making the rounds in Abia political circles

that Otti may throw his hat in the ring to contest for Abia state

governorship position in 2015.
The rumours which were being discussed in whispers have spread like

wildfire since the top banker was conferred with a chieftaincy title of

Ugwumba 1 of Ngwa land by 'Ndi Eze Ala Ngwa' (Traditional Rulers of Ngwa

Land) at Umueleghele community in Isiala Ngwa council area last Friday.

Pointblanknews.com gathered that Otti's alleged governorship ambition has

been greeted with controversy since it broke out because of the

circumstances surrounding his origin. Otti is said to hail from Arochukwu

in Abia North senatorial zone but his father settled in Umuru, Umuehim in

Ehi Na Uguru Ancient community in Isiala Ngwa South council area in Abia

Central senatorial zone.
According to a resident of the Umuru Umuehim village who spoke to

Pointblanknews.com at the venue of the chieftaincy installation, “Otti's

father, Lazarus who was a Pastor of the Seventh Day Adventist church was

from Arochukwu but migrated to Umuru, Umuehim community where he was given

a land to build in the olden days. You know how the Aro people migrate,

anywhere they are accepted becomes their home. Alex Otti is from Arochukwu

and not a freeborn of Umuru Umuehim let alone Ngwa land.

“He is claiming to be from Ngwa land to enable him contest the

governorship election. Does it not surprise you that Alex Otti built his

first house in Arochukwu and recently built another one in Umuru, Umuehim;

perhaps to enable him qualify for the contest? So, they know what they are

doing, I blame our traditional rulers for selling out and not telling the

whole truth about Alex Otti's origin.”
Pointbalnknews.com further gathered that the plot to 'fully make Otti a

freeborn Ngwa son' was hatched by the traditional ruler of Isi Eketa

Autonomous community, Eze Nelson Achilefu Nmerengwa who conscripted other

monarchs in the deal on which the latter was allegedly settled with a

princely sum.
In a resolution passed by the Oha Ngwa Traditional Rulers Council at their

meeting held at Aba Town Hall titled,” Grand Reception and Award of

Chieftaincy Title to a Worthy son”, the monarchs in a letter addressed to

Otti and signed by Eze Friday M. Ikpeazu, Eze P.O Oguibe, Eze Nelson A.

Nmerengwa; Chairman of Council, Secretary to Council and Chairman, Board

of Trustees, respectively, decided to organize a civic reception where a

chieftaincy titled will be conferred on him.
“In arriving at this decision, the Council views you as “Ngwa” by birth

though “Arochukwu” Biologically and have carefully recorded your growth

and impressive antecedents from birth,” the resolution read in part.

The deal is said to have caused divisions among the traditional rulers in

Ngwa land who believe that some forces are propping Otii to contest for

the Abia governorship seat in 2015. Sources told our correspondent the

controversy over Otti's origin was behind the boycotting of the event by

the State Chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Eberechi Dick

and some top monarchs from the area.
Prominent indigenes of Ngwa land like Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Elder

Emmanuel Adaelu who have been the leading voices in favour of a power

shift to Ukwa/ Ngwa zone were also absent from the event. First Attorney

General of Abia state, Barr. Theo Nkire who was billed to chair the

ceremony withdrew three days to the date through repeated media

announcements which led to  the ex council chairman of Isiala Ngwa LGA,

Chief Anthony Agbazuere being  propped up to stand in Nkire's place.

The chieftaincy installation which held under the auspices of nebulous

body known as “Ndi Eze Ala Ngwa” attracted the presence of Gov. Theodore

Orji, former Anambra governor, Mr. Peter Obi and Rivers state First Lady,

Judith Amaechi whom Otti thanked for attending the event but added that he

missed her husband, Gov. Chibuike Amaechi who he said, assured him of his

presence.
Other dignitaries who graced the event are the Deputy Speaker House of

Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, Obi of Onitsha and Chairman Diamond

Bank, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, Imo PDP Chairman, Barr, Nnamdi Anyaehie, among

others.