ICYMI: Peter Obi denies Anambra debt claims, says ₦2bn ecological fund was left intact

Politics

AWKA, Nigeria (NPA) — The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, has denied claims by the Anambra State Government that his administration left behind inherited debts, including a ₦2 billion ecological loan, contractor liabilities and unpaid salaries, gratuities and pensions.

Obi, in a statement issued on Tuesday and titled “Debunking the Phantom Debts and Ecological Loan Fallacy,” described the allegations as completely false and said his administration had settled outstanding liabilities inherited from previous administrations.

According to the former Anambra State governor, his administration liquidated historical gratuities and arrears dating back several years, with payments exceeding ₦35 billion.

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He said that at the point of handover, the state had no outstanding obligations in salaries, gratuities or pensions and owed nothing to contractors for projects that had been duly executed and certified.

On the alleged ₦2 billion ecological loan, Obi said the funds were released about three months before the end of his tenure to address the Oko/Umuchiana erosion crisis.

He said he declined pressure to spend the money before leaving office, insisting that the funds should remain available for his successor because “government is a continuum” and the money was earmarked for a specific project.

Obi said the funds were subsequently left intact in a First Bank account, which he identified as Account No. 2018779464, with a balance of more than ₦2.13 billion.

He further argued that funds earmarked for specific projects or purposes were not included in the more than ₦75 billion in savings he said his administration left behind.

The NDC candidate challenged anyone disputing his account to provide evidence to the contrary.

“If anybody can establish anything to the contrary, I will stop campaigning,” Obi said.