Obi fires back at Soludo’s govt: ‘I left Anambra without unpaid debts’

Presidential hopeful Peter Obi has rejected claims that his administration left behind debts still being repaid by the Anambra State Government, insisting that he cleared all obligations before leaving office.

Obi, who governed Anambra State from 2006 to 2014, made the clarification in a viral video while reacting to comments by the state government that it is still servicing loans obtained by previous administrations, including his tenure and that of his successor, Willie Obiano.

The controversy started after Anambra State Commissioner for Finance, Izuchukwu Okafor, said the state’s federal allocation was still being deducted to repay loans inherited from past administrations.

Responding, Obi said his administration did not leave behind unpaid salaries, pensions, gratuities, suppliers’ debts or outstanding payments to contractors who had completed their work.

“As at the day I left office, I was not owing any salary, pension, or gratuity that Anambra State Government is supposed to pay,” Obi said.

“I was not owing any supplier or contractor that had executed his job and his documents processed, not one. The day I left office; I paid what was due to be paid.”

The former governor also addressed claims surrounding an ecological fund, saying he left about N2.1 billion in a First Bank account meant specifically for an erosion control project.

According to him, the money was received from the Federal Government shortly before he left office and was kept untouched because it was tied to a specific project.

“My people were saying, ‘let’s expend this money’. But I kept telling them, government is a continuity and I want the person coming after me to succeed,” he said.

Obi challenged anyone disputing his claim to provide evidence, saying he would stop his presidential ambition if it was proven that the money was not in the account when he handed over power.

The development comes as political activities ahead of the 2027 presidential election intensify, with Obi positioning himself as one of the major challengers to President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking on the political landscape, Obi said governors had the right to support any candidate of their choice but insisted that the election should be decided by voters.

“It is politics and their rights to support whoever they want,” he said.

“I’m not urging them to support me. I am only urging them to allow free, fair and credible elections.”

He added that the outcome of the election should be determined by Nigerians rather than political office holders.