Former Anambra State Governor and 2027 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has rejected claims that his administration left behind unpaid debts and outstanding financial obligations for subsequent governments to settle.
Obi was responding to statements by the Anambra State Government that the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo was still servicing loans inherited from previous administrations, including those incurred during Obi’s tenure.
Anambra State Commissioner for Finance, Izuchukwu Okafor, had said deductions were being made from the state’s monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee funds to service loans obtained by earlier administrations. He also said the state had reduced its overall debt burden by more than 83 per cent.
Obi, however, disputed the suggestion that his administration left behind unpaid obligations. He said he settled what was due before leaving office and challenged the state government to provide evidence showing otherwise.
He also addressed the claim involving a ₦2 billion ecological fund. Obi explained that the money was released shortly before he left office and was meant for the Oko/Umuchiana erosion crisis, rather than being a general debt left for the succeeding administration.
According to Obi, funds earmarked for specific projects were not included in the more than ₦75 billion in savings he said his administration left behind.
The former governor went further by making a strong political commitment ahead of the 2027 presidential election. He said he would stop his campaign if anyone could establish that the allegations about debts left by his administration were correct.
The dispute adds another layer to the political debate surrounding Obi’s record as Anambra governor and his campaign for the presidency in 2027. The claims and counterclaims remain matters of political disagreement, with both sides presenting different accounts of the state’s financial obligations.
Obi has called for evidence to settle the matter, while the Anambra Government maintains that it continues to service financial obligations inherited from previous administrations.