The Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS) has urged the Anambra State Government to publish a consolidated debt and borrowing accountability statement covering the administrations of former Governors Peter Obi, Willie Obiano, and Chukwuma Soludo. This call is based on a statement by the State's Commissioner for Finance, Izuchukwu Okafor, who claimed that the state government is still servicing loans contracted by previous administrations.
According to CEHRAWS, the statement should clearly show loans, funds, purpose of the loan, lender, date, amount, approval, disbursement, repayment, outstanding balance, and projects or beneficiaries. The group is seeking clarification on the claims made by the Commissioner, who stated that deductions are still being made from Anambra's Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) revenues to service such obligations.
The Anambra State Government has reportedly reduced the state's debt by more than 83 percent, according to the Commissioner. He also stated that the Soludo administration has not borrowed from any commercial bank since assuming office. CEHRAWS has called on the Anambra State House of Assembly, the Auditor-General for Anambra State, and other relevant oversight institutions to independently scrutinize the records.
CEHRAWS stated that it is not defending any politician but is defending the public's right to know what happened to public funds and what financial obligations have been imposed upon present and future generations of Anambra citizens. The group noted that if the loans were legitimately obtained, properly approved, transparently utilized, and responsibly serviced, there should be no reason not to disclose the details.
If irregularities occurred, the public deserves to know, and if any of the present claims are inaccurate, exaggerated, or politically framed, the public equally deserves the truth. CEHRAWS has called on the Anambra State Government to publish the exact loans it says were contracted under the Peter Obi and Willie Obiano administrations.
The group commended every genuine effort to reduce public debt and promote fiscal responsibility but urged that public debt should not be reduced to political claims, counterclaims, or campaign narratives. Such claims must be supported by verifiable records, according to CEHRAWS, which emphasized the need for transparency and accountability.
CEHRAWS' executive director, Okoye Chuka Peter, signed the statement, emphasizing the need for the Anambra State Government to provide the required information. The group seeks to ensure that the public has access to information about the state's debt and borrowing history, promoting transparency and accountability in governance.
Key points
- Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society demands transparency on loans contracted by previous administrations in Anambra State.
- Anambra State Government has reduced state's debt by more than 83 percent.
- CEHRAWS urges public debt not to be reduced to political claims.
