Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr. Peter Obi, has challenged Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State to show proof that he (Obi) left inherited debts, including a ₦2 billion ecological loan, contractor liabilities, and unpaid salaries, gratuities, and pensions.
The Commissioner for Finance in the state, Izuchukwu Okafor, claimed during a podcast that Governor Charles Soludo’s administration was still repaying loans and other debts incurred by Mr Obi and other past governors of the state.
But in post on his Facebook page on Tuesday, titled: “Debunking the Phantom Debts and Ecological Loan Fallacy,” Obi refuted the claim.
He wrote: “My attention has been drawn to trending claims by the Anambra State Government that my administration left behind inherited debts, including a ₦2 billion ecological loan, contractor liabilities, and unpaid salaries, gratuities, and pensions. This is completely false.
“We systematically liquidated historical gratuities and arrears dating back several years, amounting to over ₦35 billion. At the point of handover, the state owed nothing in salaries, gratuities, or pensions, nor did we owe anything to any contractor for projects duly executed and certified.”
On the N2billion Ecological Fund, Obi said the money was left in the bank for the administration that succeeded him.
“The ₦2 billion ecological fund in question was released barely three months before the end of my tenure for the Oko/Umuchiana erosion crisis.
“Despite pressure to spend the money, I refused, insisting that it should be left for my successor because government is a continuum and the funds were tied to a specific project.
“The money was therefore left 100 per cent intact in First Bank, in Account No. 2018779464, with a balance of over ₦2.13 billion,” Obi stated.
He explained that funds meant for specific projects were not included in the money he handed over to his successor.
“It is important to stress that funds tied to specific projects or set aside for particular purposes were not even included in the over ₦75 billion in savings we left behind.”
He restated his challenge to anyone who has anythong against him to bring evidence before the public.
“If anybody can establish anything to the contrary, I will stop campaigning,” Obi said.
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