Daud Olatunji
Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has denied claims that his administration left behind a ₦2 billion ecological loan and other financial liabilities when he handed over power in 2014.
Obi who is the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Demicratic Congress, described the allegation as “completely false,” insisting that his administration not only cleared inherited debts and arrears but also left funds meant for specific projects untouched for the incoming administration.
The former governor made the clarification in a statement posted on his LinkedIn page on Monday.
According to Obi, his administration systematically addressed historical financial obligations inherited from previous governments, including gratuities and arrears that had accumulated over several years.
He said the payments amounted to more than ₦35 billion.
Obi further claimed that by the time he left office, there were no outstanding salaries, gratuities or pension liabilities owed by the state.
He added that contractors whose projects had been completed and duly certified for payment had also been settled.
Addressing the specific allegation concerning the ₦2 billion ecological fund, Obi said the money was released about three months before the end of his tenure for the management of the erosion crisis in Oko and Umuchiana.
He said despite pressure to spend the money before leaving office, he deliberately refused to do so because it had been earmarked for a specific purpose.
Obi explained that the decision was based on his belief that government was a continuum and that the incoming administration should have access to the funds to execute the designated projects.
He claimed that the money was subsequently kept in a First Bank account and that the balance stood at more than ₦2.13 billion when he handed over power.
“The funds were tied to a specific project,” Obi said, challenging anyone disputing his account to produce evidence to the contrary.
The former governor also clarified that monies reserved for specific projects were separate from the more than ₦75 billion in savings he said his administration left behind.
Obi said the funds earmarked for the erosion projects should therefore not be interpreted as part of the savings figure he previously disclosed.
He maintained that his administration’s financial position at the point of handover could be verified through relevant government records and account statements.
The former governor’s response comes amid renewed claims concerning financial obligations allegedly inherited by successive administrations in Anambra State.
Obi urged those making the claims to provide documentary evidence, rather than relying on assertions concerning the state’s financial position at the end of his tenure.
He said public finances should be subjected to verifiable records, stressing that government remains a continuum and that funds appropriated or released for specific projects should be preserved for the intended purpose..
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