Obi also demanded a free, fair, and credible election in 2027, whilst acknowledging Governor Soludo’s right to back a candidate of his choice.
By Kehinde Okeowo
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has responded to allegations that the incumbent governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, is still servicing debt incurred when Obi was governor, insisting, “I paid what was due to be paid.”
The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate countered the claims in a now-trending video that made the rounds on Monday.
Obi served as governor of Anambra from March 2006 to 17 March 2014, when he handed over power to his successor, Willie Obiano.
Speaking on the Voice of Ndi Anambra podcast posted on Facebook on Monday, the current commissioner for finance in Anambra, Izuchukwu Okafor, alleged that the state’s monthly federal allocation is still being deducted to service loans incurred during the tenures of Obi and Obiano.
He said, “It’s on record that this administration has not borrowed a kobo from any commercial bank since the inception of this administration.”
Clarifying who incurred the debt, Okafor added, “These loans were borrowed during the time of Peter Obi and Willie Obiano, the past governors.”
ALSO READ: Obi recalls how he reduced costs as Anambra governor
Reacting to the claims, Obi insisted that his administration left no outstanding debt in Anambra when he vacated office.
He further faulted the remark, arguing that his administration never owed any salary, pension, or contractor during his tenure.
“As at the day I left office, I was not owing any salary, pension, or gratuity that the Anambra State Government was supposed to pay,” he countered.
The NDC chieftain also argued, “I was not owing any supplier or contractor who had executed their job and had their documents processed — not one. The day I left office, I paid what was due to be paid. I wasn’t owing any contractors.”
Obi, however, acknowledged that Governor Soludo and his counterparts in other states have the right to support any presidential candidate during the 2027 polls, but he demanded a free, fair, and credible election.
He said, “There are over 30 governors today supporting the president. It is politics, and it is their right to support whoever they want.
“I am not urging them to support me. I am only urging them to allow free, fair, and credible elections. I am talking to the people, because they have only one vote each.”
