ALEX OTTI’S BAPTISM OF FIRE
When Alex Otti resigned his plum job as Managing Director, Diamond Bank Plc, to venture into politics, many were taken aback. The fears in some quarters were that the Abia Stateborn gentleman was too polished for the murky waters of Nigerian politics.
But rather than entomb his living dream, he pursued them with all imaginable vigour. As fate would have it, he was able to worm himself into the hearts of his people in the state. He proved to all that it was a well- thought out plan; he campaigned far and wide,
courting those who matter in his state.
He was over- joyous when he emerged the governorship candidate of his party, All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA), but the joy was cut short when he was defeated at the governorship poll in April. No doubt, he suffered what many described as baptism of fire at the poll when he was defeated by the Peoples’ Democratic Party ( PDP) candidate, Dr. Ikpeazu. This came as a rude shock to the stylish dude. It is doubtful if he can ever forget the experience in a hurry.
Society Happenings gathered that since he suffered the defeat, he is yet to get over the shock, particularly because of the huge amount of money he expended on the ambition that was given a kiss of death. Although he has petitioned the Election Tribunal citing irregularities in the polls, it was gathered that some of his friends have advised him to accept defeat and brace up for another time.
He may however be the man to watch out for in future election in the state. Otti attended the University of Port Harcourt for his university education, where he graduated with First Class in Economics in 1988. While at the University of Port Harcourt, he distinguished himself by graduating not only as the Best Student of the Faculty of Social Sciences, but also as the Overall Best Graduating Student for that year. At the University, he not only excelled academically but also proved his mettle by taking on various roles such as the position of the news editor for the school newsletter, UniPort Mirror. In addition, he was the treasurer for the University Chapter of the Nigerian Economic Students’ Association ( NESA) in 1986 and subsequently became the
president of the association the following year.
An alumnus of the prestigious Harvard Business School, Otti has attended various international courses, including the Executive Development Programmes of the Columbia Business and Stanford Business School and Wharton Business School ( University of Pennsylvania).
Highly respected for his wealth of knowledge, Otti is on the Board of several companies and is also on the Board of two of Nigeria’s leading universities. In 2009, he was conferred with an honorary doctorate degree by Babcock University; and in 2012, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science ( D. Sc.) degree by the University of Port Harcourt.