…as group gives him 7-day ultimatum to quit bank

By Eric Ugbor

ABA — The South East Progressives Assembly, SEPA, has taken a swipe at the Group Managing Director of Diamond Bank, Dr. Alex Otti, over his conducts and unguarded utterances that clearly suggested that he joined the governorship race of Abia State to play a spoiler’s role.

The group also berated Otti for allegedly attacking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Governor Theodore Orji over their insistence that Abia South should produce the next governor in accordance with the zoning arrangement that had prevailed in the state since the return of democracy in 1999.
The group in a statement signed by its President and former media aide to Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Ebere Uzoukwa, SEPA wondered why Otti had refused to resign his position as Managing Director of Diamond Bank to prove he was truly contesting the governorship seat.

The statement read:  “SEPA has noted with dismay the unscrupulous activities of Dr. Alex Otti who is the Managing Director of Diamond Bank and custodian of peoples’ investment and deposits.
“Otti who claims to have come from Isiala-Ngwa in Abia Central and not Arochukwu as originally known to everyone, claims he is contesting the governorship of Abia State under the platform of PDP, a  party his membership remains in doubt.

“It is a fact that PDP which Otti claims to belong has officially zoned its governorship ticket, based on equity, justice and fairness to Abia South, a decision heralded and overwhelmingly supported by party members across the state, including Governor Theodore Orji.
“The implication of that decision is that Otti has been automatically zoned out of the race.

“Rather than stand behind the PDP on that popular decision or join another political party to actualise his ambition, the Diamond boss, to the chagrin of Abians, resorted to heating up the polity as he continued to conduct himself in a manner that suggests that PDP or Abia belongs to him.
“This becomes more worrisome, considering the fact that Otti, owing to his position as the Managing Director remains the custodian of peoples’ huge investments and funds in Diamond Bank.