‘Obi Is Smart, We Have Unbreakable Bond’ – Otti Responds To Outright Reports

The Abia State Governor-Elect, Alex Otti has defended his comment over winning the state’s governorship election without the influence of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

VerseNews Nigeria reports that Otti who was declared the winner of the state’s governorship election in a tight-contest was misunderstood over his comment in an interview with the “Channels TV”.

This Online News Media reports that Otti when asked if Obi’s influence contributed to his victory in the just concluded election said he has won elections in the state before without the former Anambra governor.

“Peter Obi is a great addition to our campaign, but I can tell you that we won an election before in Abia without him,” he said.

However, his comment triggered some controversies based on the media headlines circulating online.

Responding to the reports, Otti in a statement on Saturday, March 25, 2023 by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma said Obi is smart and understands the agenda of those circulating the distorted portion of my interview.

The Governor-Elect made it clear that such false reports cannot break the bond he have with Obi.

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The statement read: “Obi knows and understands my personality, and knows that I hold him very high, and thus would be laughing at those that twisted my statement in a manner it would look like a denigration of him.

“That I almost lost the APGA governorship ticket in 2019 in Abia, was because I had the audacity to defend Obi publicly when I presented facts of evidence to prove that he left the money he claimed to have left behind in Anambra’s treasury while leaving office as governor. This was against the denial by the then-Anambra State government.

“Again, my Thisday Column of June 8, 2020 captioned, ‘The Triumph of Profligacy Over Prudence’ was used to celebrate Obi and his leadership style.

“As we were not in the same party then, there was no better way to prove that my love, support and appreciation of Okwute has nothing to do with politics. I’m sure he would be laughing over this report, because he’s smarter and thus understands the agenda of those circulating the distorted portion of my interview.

“Obi and I have unbreakable bond, therefore those trying to use a news headline to bury the substance of my analogical submission which was made to respond to a question and explain that, outside the massive impacts of the Obi wave, we are on ground in Abia and had won elections twice in the past; are either being misled or are outrightly mischievous.”