‘𝑰 𝑷𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑶𝒘𝒆𝒅’ — 𝑶𝒃𝒊 𝑭𝒂𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒔 𝑨𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒓𝒂 𝑫𝒆𝒃𝒕 𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒎

Former Anambra State governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has denied claims that the state is still servicing debts incurred during his tenure.

Obi said he left office without owing workers, pensioners or contractors, insisting that every payment due at the time was settled.

His response follows a statement by the Anambra State Commissioner for Finance, Izuchukwu Okafor, who said on the Voice of Ndi Anambra Podcast on Monday that the state’s federal allocation is still being deducted to repay loans borrowed under Obi and his successor, Willie Obiano.

Obi, who governed Anambra from March 2006 to March 2014, described the claim as incorrect.

In a video now circulating online, he said: “As at the day I left office, I was not owing any salary, pension or gratuity that Anambra State government is supposed to pay. I was not owing any supplier or contractor that had executed his job and his documents processed. I paid what was due to be paid.”

He also addressed questions about money left in the state’s coffers. According to him, about N2.1 billion ecological fund was in a First Bank account at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University branch when he left office.

The fund, he explained, was released by the federal government about three months to the end of his administration for a specific erosion control project. It was not part of the other funds he handed over.

Obi said some members of his team wanted the money spent before leaving office, but he refused.

“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.

He challenged anyone who doubts the account to verify it, adding that he is ready to provide the account details. “If you see anything contrary to the day I left office, I will stop campaigning,” he said.

On politics ahead of 2027, Obi said he has no issue with Governor Chukwuma Soludo and other governors supporting President Bola Tinubu or any other candidate.

“It’s about over 30 governors today supporting the president. And 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.”

According to him, the outcome of the election should be decided by Nigerians, not by governors.

“It is the people of Nigeria that will decide, not the governors, unless they’re going to write the results or rig the election,” he said.