PRESIDENTIAL candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has rejected 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, while also declaring that he has no objection to the release of his academic records for public scrutiny.
News Point Nigeria reports that Obi, in a statement posted on X on Tuesday, described the debt claims as “completely false,” saying his administration had cleared more than ₦35 billion in historical gratuities and arrears and handed over the state without outstanding salary, pension or gratuity obligations.
He said, “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,” he added.
The former Anambra governor was reacting to claims by the state government that the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo was still servicing debts incurred by previous administrations, including those of Obi and former Governor Willie Obiano.
Anambra State Commissioner for Finance, Izuchukwu Okafor, had said the Soludo administration had not borrowed from any commercial bank since assuming office but had continued to service inherited loans.
Okafor said deductions were being made from the state’s Federation Account Allocation Committee funds to repay loans obtained by previous administrations, while noting that the government had reduced the state’s debt burden by more than 83 per cent.
But Obi specifically disputed the claim concerning the ₦2 billion ecological fund, explaining that the money was released shortly before he left office for the Oko/Umuchiana erosion crisis.
“The ₦2 billion ecological fund in question was released barely three months before the end of my tenure for the Oko/Umuchiana erosion crisis,” he said.
“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.”
According to Obi, the money was left untouched in a First Bank account.
“The money was therefore left 100 per cent intact in First Bank, in Account No. 2018779464, with a balance of over ₦2.13 billion,” he said.
He also maintained that the money was not part of the savings he claimed his administration left for the state.
“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,” Obi said.
He challenged the Anambra State Government or anyone else to produce evidence contradicting his account.
“If anybody can establish anything to the contrary, I will stop campaigning,” he said.
Meanwhile, Obi has said he has no objection to the release of his academic records amid reports of a legal action seeking certified true copies of his certificates and other educational documents.
Obi stated this in the same statement posted on X on Tuesday, saying he had given consent for the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, to make available his academic records and other official documents relating to his admission and studies, subject to applicable laws.
His statement followed reports circulating on social media concerning a legal action by an individual or group seeking certified true copies of his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and other academic credentials relating to his admission into the university.
He wrote, “I wish to state clearly that I have absolutely no objection to the release of these records.
“I respectfully request that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, within the limits permitted by law, make available, upon legitimate request, my academic certificates, records, and other official documents relating to my admission and studies at the University. I equally have no objection to other educational institutions, within and outside Nigeria, which I attended, making my academic records available in accordance with applicable laws and procedures.”
Obi said he believed strongly in transparency and accountability, particularly for individuals seeking public office, but stressed that public scrutiny should be fair, lawful and consistently applied to all presidential candidates.
“As a presidential candidate seeking the trust of Nigerians to lead our country, I welcome legitimate public interest in my background, qualifications, and record. I am prepared to subject myself to the level of scrutiny that should reasonably be expected of anyone seeking the highest office in our country,” he said.
Obi said candidates seeking the nation’s highest office should be willing to subject themselves to reasonable scrutiny and demonstrate that they had nothing to conceal from the people they sought to serve.
He subsequently challenged other presidential candidates to make their educational qualifications and relevant records available for public scrutiny.
“Doing so should not be regarded as an inconvenience or an attack. Rather, it is an opportunity to strengthen public confidence, promote accountability, and rebuild the trust of Nigerians in those who seek to govern them,” he said.
Obi added that transparency, integrity and accountability should begin with those seeking to lead the country.
“I therefore welcome the scrutiny of my academic background and remain committed to the principle that those who ask Nigerians for their trust must also be willing to earn that trust through openness and accountability,” he added.