The reception in honour of Alex Otti, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Bank, by traditional rulers in Ngwa is seen by many as a gaffe in his political sail.
IGBEAKU ORJI examines the odds against him and in his favour as a governorship candidate and how his entry alters political calculations in Abia State.
Alex Otti
Until June 13, 2014, Otti’s political ambition was still muffled. That was the day the traditional rulers in the seven local government areas of Ngwa honoured him with the title of Ugwu Ngwa (the prestige of Ngwaland). They traced his nexus within the Ngwa matrix. But the nativity issue is actually contentious.
Other potential governorship aspirants with background in Ngwa include Senate Information Committee Chairman, Enyinnaya Abaribe; Senate Gas Committee Chairman, Nkechi Nworgu; Labour Minister, Emeka Wogu; former Abia Deputy Governor, Eric Nwakanma; and ASEPA Deputy General Manager (Aba zone), Uzor Azubuike.
Any of them could emerge as their party flag bearer without resentment.
But the tendency to snigger at non-natives when it comes to political aspiration made it necessary for the traditional rulers to clear Otti as ‘our beloved son’ and ‘home boy.’
The event is seen in many quarters as a definite step towards the realisation of the dream of governing Abia State by an Ngwa man.
Orji creates easy passage for Otti
Governor Theodore Orji had advised the groups that came to felicitate with him over the declaration that they should present a candidate acceptable to all. This was viewed as a signal to other aspirants to withdraw from the race to give easy passage to Otti.
It has also settled the question of his origin and qualification for the race on Ngwa platform.
Many believe that if that is not done then Otti would have no grounds to contest for the governorship, having his origins in Arochuikwu in Abia North, if fairness, equity and justice were to be respected.
It is, however, a matter of conjecture whether the aspirants would accept that.
While the Umnneato Ngwa, comprising Isiala Ngwa North and South and Osisioma, believe that as the head of the Ngwa clan they should lead in matters of leadership, the Obingwa area will not compromise its claim to leadership. This tussle has the potential of robbing Ngwa the governorship position altogether unless it is settled prior to the election by allowing a consensus candidate to emerge.
There are other aspirants who are not from the Ukwa-Ngwa political bloc also in the race for governorship in 2015.
They include Masters Energy Oil President, Uche Ogah, and former Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Azubuike Ihejirika (rtd). Both are from Isuikwuato in Abia North.
Last week, Ogah was at the secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to formally declare his interest for the office of governor. He was at Otti’s reception.
Circular agitation by groups
A group from Isuikwuato claims that it is their turn to rule the state. They contend that the ‘I’ in Abia is Isuikwuato and should take the slot before Aba zone represented by the next ‘A’.
Having being ensconced in the banking industry for more than a decade, Otti seems equipped for the next level of politics.
Since Orji announced that the governorship is zoned to Abia South in 2015, individuals and groups from the area have realigned forces to grab the coveted office. The decision to allow the office go south is to ensure fairness and justice, Abia North and Central having taken their slots.
But to Ngwa, the position is for Ngwa not Abia South zone.
Those who hold the view insist that Ngwa is one, whether in the Central or South zone. They say three local governments in Ngwa – Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa North and Osisioma – are in Abia Central.
To other Ngwa areas – like Obingwa, Ugwunagbo, Aba North and Aba South and Ukwa East and West – the slot is for Abia South.
The reception held for Otti was attended by prominent politicians, traditional rulers and captains of industry from within and outside Abia.
Inspiration from Obama’s run
What is likely to be a stumbling block to Otti’s ambition is his Aro origin. His great grand fathers were from Arochukwu. They settled in Nvosi where he was born. This is the reason the traditional rulers took turns to trace his link as an Ngwa son.
The host traditional ruler, Nelson Nmerengwa, said “Alex Otti is our brother; he was born here in Nvosi Ngwa. We invited him to honour him because we know him as a responsible, trustworthy and progress minded person.
“Alex was born here; his great grand fathers sojourned here over 300 years ago. I went to school at Ihie with his father,” recounted another monarch, Edward Eluwa.
A constitutional lawyer, Anthony Agbazuere, who chaired the occasion, drew a parallel between Otti and United States President, Barack Obama.
He said Obama’s ancestors were from Kenya but because he was born in America, he became a bonafide citizen and was elected President regardless of his African background.
A citation presented by O. J. Ananaba described Otti as “a home boy, a prophet honoured at home. We want to receive him as our son and present him to Abia people as our son. Even if his forefathers have an Aro origin he is an Ngwa man.”
Ananaba said Otti only left the community to study at the University of Port Harcourt where he obtained a first class degree in economics in 1988, and has used his position as a banker to empower his people.
“The traditional rulers of the seven local government areas of Ngwaland therefore recognise him as their son and honour him.”
Orji described the event as a demonstration of appreciation of Otti’s good nature and urged individuals in positions of authority to be good to their people. He noted that even Diamond Bank recognises Otti’s “outstanding performance” by extending his tenure by three years.
Advantage of dual citizenship
Analysts have cited the knotty issue of origin as one factor standing against Otti but, ironically, this in his favour. It makes him acceptable both to the Ngwa and the Aro and, by extension, the entire Abia North.
And those who think he has not participated in party politics and will not fit in need to look at trend in politics. Politicians currently occupying some offices office were at one point unknown in the past.
Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, who was one of the guests, became Governor not from politics but from the banking sector.
In the case of Otti, he has been involved in politics but at a different level, the boardroom. And it is on record that those who did not spend long years in political apprenticeship are the most focused.
Otti described the honour accorded him as flattering.
“I did not pay for the title. When I was informed of the decision to honour me I only asked for time to enable me renovate my father’s house,” he said.
He promised not to disappoint their expectation.
