The Anambra State government has reacted to recent claims by former Governor Peter Obi regarding his legacy of debts in the state. In a television appearance on Arise TV on September 24, 2026, Obi attempted to downplay the issue, but the government has provided evidence to counter his claims. According to the government, Obi's administration signed eight loans from the IDA-World Bank totaling $123,771,179.30, which were concealed from his handover notes.
The Anambra State government has been in office for four and a half years and has been paying billions of Naira to service debts inherited from Obi's administration. The government claims that it has been quietly paying the debts without complaint, but Obi threw a "challenge" to anyone to show that he owed salaries or debts. The government responded to this challenge by providing evidence of the debts, which has led to Obi and his supporters accusing the government of being politically motivated.
The government has accused Obi of hypocrisy and multiple standards, citing his history of criticizing his predecessors and successors while promoting himself as a superior leader. Obi has been known to criticize Dr. Mbadinuju and Dr. Ngige, his predecessors, and has spent the last 13 years demarketing his successors. The government claims that Obi has a history of lying about his achievements and the state of Anambra's finances.
One of the key issues in dispute is the $123.77 million debt tag attributed to Obi's administration. Obi has cleared the air on this issue, rejecting the debt tag. However, the government claims that Obi's administration took loans and left unpaid salary and pension arrears, which were concealed from his handover notes. The government has provided evidence of the loans, including dates and amounts, which can be verified from the Debt Management Office (DMO) in Abuja.
The Anambra State government has also questioned Obi's handling of the Ecological Fund, which he claimed to have left in a bank account. However, the government claims that the fund could not be found in the account and bank he claimed to have left it. Obi's supporters have applauded him for his claims, but the government has provided evidence to counter his assertions.
The government has advised Obi to stop lying as a habit to avoid constant embarrassment when confronted with inconvenient facts and truths. The government has also accused Obi of evading questions about the Ecological Fund and his legacy of debts. The dispute between Obi and the Anambra State government has raised questions about accountability and governance in the state.
As of June 30, 2026, the DMO report showed an outstanding balance of $92.35 million, equivalent to N127.37 billion, on the loans taken by Obi's administration. The government claims that successive administrations, including the current one, have continued to service these debts through monthly FAAC deductions. The issue remains a contentious one, with Obi and his supporters maintaining that he did not leave any debts.
Key points
- The Anambra State government has provided evidence of debts inherited from Peter Obi's administration, including eight loans from the IDA-World Bank totaling $123,771,179.30.
- Obi's administration took loans and left unpaid salary and pension arrears, which were concealed from his handover notes.
- The government has accused Obi of hypocrisy and multiple standards, citing his history of criticizing his predecessors and successors.
