The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has challenged critics and the Anambra State Government to produce evidence that his administration left behind unpaid debts, salaries, pensions and contractor liabilities when he left office.
Obi, who governed Anambra State from 2006 to 2013, made the challenge while responding to claims that his administration left behind a N2 billion ecological loan, unpaid contractor liabilities, salaries, gratuities and pensions.
He described the allegations as false, insisting that his administration cleared more than N35 billion in historical gratuities and arrears accumulated before he assumed office.
Obi said that at the point of handover, the state did not owe salaries, gratuities or pensions, adding that contractors whose projects had been duly executed and certified had also been fully paid.
He said, “We systematically liquidated historical gratuities and arrears dating back several years, amounting to over N35 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.”
On the alleged N2 billion ecological loan, Obi explained that the money was released barely three months before the end of his tenure for the Oko/Umuchiana erosion crisis.
According to him, he declined to spend the funds despite pressure because they were tied to a specific project, and instead left the money for his successor to execute the project.
He said the funds remained untouched in a First Bank account with account number 2018779464, with a balance of more than N2.13 billion.
Obi further clarified that the ecological funds were not part of the more than N75 billion in savings which he claimed his administration left for the succeeding government.
He challenged anyone with contrary evidence to produce it, saying, “If anybody can establish anything to the contrary, I will stop campaigning.”
The former governor also said public records should be subjected to scrutiny, stressing that claims concerning public funds should be supported by verifiable evidence.
On his academic credentials, Obi said he had no objection to legitimate public scrutiny of his educational records, urging institutions he attended to release relevant documents in accordance with the law.
He specifically called on the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, to release his certificates, admission records and other official documents upon a legitimate request.
Obi said other institutions in Nigeria and abroad where he studied could also release relevant records in line with applicable laws and procedures.
“I have absolutely no objection to the release of these records,” he said.
The NDC candidate said transparency and accountability were essential for anyone seeking the presidency, adding that scrutiny should be lawful, fair and applied consistently to all candidates.
He said, “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.”
Obi also challenged other presidential candidates to make their educational qualifications and relevant records available for legitimate public examination.
