Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has insisted that he left office without unpaid salaries, pensions, gratuities or verified debts owed to contractors, rejecting claims that his administration left behind significant financial obligations for subsequent governments.
Obi made the clarification while responding to renewed questions surrounding the Anambra State debt and financial facilities associated with projects implemented during his tenure as governor.
The controversy has attracted renewed attention as Nigeria's political environment becomes increasingly active ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Peter Obi Rejects Claims That He Left Anambra in Debt
According to Obi, he did not borrow money through conventional commercial borrowing or issue bonds during his administration. He maintained that when he handed over power in March 2014, the state had no outstanding obligations relating to salaries, pensions and gratuities that were due for payment.
He also stated that contractors and suppliers who had completed and verified their work were not left unpaid by his administration.
Obi's position has become central to the debate over Peter Obi and Anambra debt, particularly because government borrowing can involve different categories of financing, including conventional loans, development funding and multilateral programmes.
Dispute Over World Bank-Backed Projects
One of the issues at the centre of the controversy is funding associated with education and other development programmes involving international financial institutions.
Obi explained that Anambra was among states selected to benefit from concessionary development support, including funding connected with the State Education Programme Investment Project, commonly known as SEPIP.
He argued that such facilities should not automatically be treated as conventional loans personally obtained by his administration without examining the actual structure of the programme, the amount approved, the amount disbursed and the balance outstanding.
The former governor stressed that there is an important difference between a financial facility that has been approved and money that has actually been drawn down and spent.
Using an example, he argued that if a financial institution approves a facility of ₦10 billion but only ₦500 million is actually accessed, it would be misleading to describe the entire ₦10 billion as money borrowed and spent by the government.
Anambra Government Presents a Different Position
The Anambra State Government has maintained a different position regarding the state's historical financial obligations.
Figures cited in reports concerning the controversy indicate that several external financing arrangements associated with projects during Obi's tenure had substantial contracted values, with outstanding balances remaining after his departure from office.
The state government has argued that successive administrations have had to service financial obligations connected to earlier development programmes and borrowing arrangements.
The disagreement therefore involves more than the simple question of whether Anambra had financial facilities during Obi's tenure. It also involves questions about the nature of those facilities, actual disbursements, repayment arrangements and the point at which particular obligations became outstanding.
Obi Questions the Interpretation of Debt Figures
Obi has also challenged the interpretation of historical debt figures being used in the debate.
He referred to figures attributed to Nigeria's Debt Management Office (DMO) and argued that the state's recorded external debt at different points in time did not support the claim that he left behind the level of debt now being attributed to his administration.
His argument is that the public should distinguish between the total value of financing facilities, the amount actually drawn, outstanding balances and obligations that may have emerged or changed after a governor left office.
This distinction is particularly important in understanding Anambra State finances, because development projects can involve financing arrangements that extend across several administrations.
The Ecological Fund Controversy
Another issue that has featured in discussions about Obi's financial record in Anambra is the state's ecological fund.
Obi has previously stated that more than ₦2 billion in ecological funds was available towards the end of his administration and that the money was intended for addressing erosion problems, including the Oko and Umuchiana areas.
He maintained that he did not divert the money for unrelated purposes because the funds were meant for a specific ecological intervention.
The former governor has used the issue as part of his broader argument that his administration exercised caution in managing public resources.
Why the Anambra Debt Debate Matters
The disagreement has renewed interest in Peter Obi's record as governor of Anambra State. Supporters frequently point to his administration's emphasis on savings, infrastructure, education and financial management, while critics continue to question the financial obligations associated with projects undertaken during his tenure.
For citizens, however, the most important issue is establishing exactly what was borrowed, what was actually received, how the money was spent and what amount remained outstanding at the end of each administration.
Those questions require examination of official financial records, loan agreements, disbursement schedules, repayment records and data published by relevant government institutions.
Obi and Soludo Dispute Financial Records
The debate also comes against the background of wider political discussions involving Obi and current Anambra Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
Despite the disagreement over the state's financial history, Obi has previously said that his criticism of aspects of government policy should not be interpreted as a personal dispute with Soludo.
The former governor has also continued to focus on national politics, particularly as political parties and opposition groups prepare for the 2027 elections.
Peter Obi's Political Profile Remains in Focus
The renewed discussion about Peter Obi comes at a politically significant period. Obi remains one of the major figures in Nigeria's opposition politics and continues to attract considerable public attention.
Premium News Naija recently reported on discussions involving Obi, Atiku Abubakar and other opposition figures as political stakeholders consider different strategies ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Read: 2027 Election: Atiku, Peter Obi and Opposition Leaders Consider Single Candidate Strategy
Another recent report examined Obi's political movement and his acceptance of the NDC presidential ticket.
As political activities intensify, Obi's record as Anambra governor is likely to remain part of the national conversation.
What Happens Next?
The latest exchange demonstrates the importance of official documentation in settling disputes over historical government debt.
Rather than relying solely on competing political claims, determining the actual financial position of Anambra at the time of Obi's departure would require comparing official debt records with the original financing agreements, actual disbursements, repayment schedules and outstanding balances.
For now, Peter Obi maintains that he left Anambra debt-free in the sense that his administration did not leave unpaid salaries, pensions, gratuities or verified contractor obligations. The Anambra State Government, however, continues to point to financial obligations associated with previous development financing.
The disagreement is therefore likely to continue generating public debate as Nigerians examine the financial records of past and present administrations and consider the broader questions of accountability, borrowing and public-sector financial management.
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