Peter Obi, the former Governor of Anambra State and the Nigeria Democratic Congress Party’s presidential candidate, has firmly dismissed allegations that his administration left behind a hefty load of inherited debts, including a ₦2 billion ecological fund, unpaid contractor bills, and outstanding salaries, gratuities, and pensions.
Obi labeled these claims as untrue, emphasizing that his administration took proactive measures to settle historical financial obligations before passing the baton.
He pointed out that his government cleared years of accumulated gratuities and arrears, totaling over ₦35 billion. At the time he handed over power, he asserted that Anambra State had no outstanding liabilities related to salaries, gratuities, or pensions.
Additionally, he refuted claims that contractors were left unpaid, stating that the state had no debts to contractors for projects that were properly executed and certified.
The ₦2 Billion Ecological Fund
A significant part of Obi’s rebuttal revolves around the ecological fund that was reportedly designated to tackle the severe erosion issues in Oko and Umuchiana.
Obi clarified that around ₦2 billion was released just three months before his administration ended, specifically for the erosion intervention. He mentioned that, despite the pressure to use the funds before leaving office, he opted not to spend it because it was earmarked for a specific project.
He explained that this decision was rooted in the belief that government is a continuum, and funds allocated for a clearly defined intervention should remain available for the incoming administration to continue the project.
Obi also noted that the money remained untouched in a First Bank account, which he identified as account number 2018779464, with a balance exceeding ₦2.13 billion.
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Savings Were Separate From Project-Specific Funds
