Anambra debt row: Obidient coordinator shares Obi’s 2014 handover report

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Photo: X | Peter Obi.

The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, has shared a copy of former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi’s 2014 handover report, detailing the financial position of the state when he handed over to Willie Obiano.

Tanko shared the document on X on Wednesday as the dispute between Obi and the Anambra State Government over the state’s inherited debts and financial obligations continues.

Dated March 17, 2014, the document was addressed by Obi to Obiano and contained a summary of the state’s financial position as of the close of business on March 14, 2014.

According to the document, Obi listed “Local Investments as at March 14, 2014 — ₦27,000,000,000.00; Foreign Currency Investment (US$156m) — ₦26,500,000,000.00; Certified State/MDAs Balances — ₦28,165,985,574.06; FGN Approved Refund — ₦10,000,000,000.00.”

The listed balances totalled “₦91,665,985,574.06,” according to the report.

It further listed “Estimated liability including March salaries, pension and gratuity as well as, approved certificates of already executed projects” at “₦5,000,000,000.00.”

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After deducting the estimated liabilities, the report recorded the “NET BALANCE” as “₦86,665,985,574.06.”

In his covering letter to Obiano, Obi wrote, “As Friday 14 March, 2014 was the final working day of my Administration, I also forward herewith, the summary of the full financial statement of Anambra State (copies of which are herein attached) as at close of business on that day.”

The release of the report comes after the Anambra State Government said it was still servicing loans inherited from previous administrations, including those incurred under Obi and Obiano.

Obi has rejected the claims, saying his administration left no outstanding salaries, pensions, gratuities or liabilities to contractors for duly executed and certified projects.

The state government has maintained its position, while Obi has challenged anyone to prove otherwise, saying, “If anybody can establish anything to the contrary, I will stop campaigning.”