Former chairman of Diamond Bank, Alex Otti has defended former Anambra state governor, Peter Obi following claims by the state government that he left an empty treasury.
Otti, however, insisted that Obi was a prudent leader who left $150 million in three banks.
He spoke while delivering a key note address. “Nigeria economic recession: Ways out of the woods”, at the 8th annual conference of the Academy for Entrepreneurial Study, at the Nigerian Institute for International Study, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Otti said Nigeria needed leaders who can inspire confidence in the people by doing what leadership required and that those in high positions should serve the people and not themselves. Otti then cited Peter Obi’s example.
“As the chairman of Diamond Bank as at the time Obi was governor, I can confirm that he left $50 million each in Diamond Bank, Fidelity Bank and Access Bank.
“I can also confirm that he did not borrow money from any financial institution”, he said.
Earlier in his speech, chairman of the event, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, represented by former Minister of Health, Julius Adelusi Adeluyi, urged leaders to focus on the people and called on Nigerians to intensify prayers for God to have mercy on the nation.
In his remarks, Peter Obi thanked the organisers for choosing a topic, he described as critical to the nation’s prosperity.
Obi said Nigerian leaders must have conscience to understand that leadership is all about serving and not being served.
He said Nigeria had all it takes to become a great nation, if leaders reflect on the trajectory of how successful economies are made.