₦airaland Forum

ON THE ANAMBRA DEBT QUESTION

I have remained silent over the past few days because I have been grieving the loss of my very dear elder brother and friend, Chief Okey Ezeibe. However, the time has come for me to address some of the matters that have occupied public discussion in recent days.

I respectfully urge everyone to concentrate on the existential challenges confronting Nigeria and the hardships endured by its citizens, rather than on the needless distractions that have become widespread in our politics.

I wish to assure the public that I have no disagreement with my dear elder brother, Governor Soludo, or with any governor in Nigeria. I am not seeking the office of governor in any state, and I will not seek that position again, even if the Constitution is amended.

Accordingly, I[b] appeal to Governors to support whichever presidential candidate they choose while also permitting and assisting other presidential candidates and contenders for other offices to campaign freely and without interruption in their states. Ultimately, voters should be allowed to determine whom they wish to serve them.[/b]
Regarding the multilateral funding inaccurately described as “debt owed by Peter Obi” in Anambra State, I wish to state unequivocally:

As Governor of Anambra State, I did not approach any financial institution to borrow funds or issue a bond on behalf of the state. Indeed, at his farewell ceremony, the then Director-General of the DMO, Abraham Nwankwo, appointed me chairman and declared that, during his 10 years in office, I was the only state governor who had not approached him for a loan facility.

When I left office, the Anambra State Government owed no unpaid salaries, gratuities, or pensions. Neither did it owe any contractor or supplier who had completed work that the government had verified and certified.

Regarding development financing from the World Bank, these are concessionary development-support funds secured by the Federal Government for states selected by it to address specific needs. Repayment is spread over 25 to 30 years.

The Anambra State Government must therefore differentiate among three separate figures: the total amount approved for the multiyear development program; the amount Anambra State actually drew during my tenure; and the funding balance outstanding when I handed over on 17 March 2014.

The Government has combined these distinct categories, added them together, and described the resulting US$123.77 million as “loans left by Peter Obi.” That is an incorrect application of public-sector accounting.

The eight facilities identified were primarily World Bank and IFAD development programs negotiated by the Federal Government, with participating states receiving access to the funds through subsidiary arrangements. They were not conventional commercial loans that I personally secured during my tenure.

This does not suggest that Anambra had no repayment responsibilities; rather, each facility must be examined in light of its approval, effectiveness, drawdown, and repayment record.

The clearest contradiction appears in the government’s own figures. It states that the original facilities amounted to approximately US$123.77 million and that US$92.35 million remained outstanding in June 2026. However, the DMO’s published records showed Anambra’s total external debt at approximately US$18 million when I began my tenure in March 2006, about US$30 million in March 2014, when I left office, and approximately US$45.15 million as of 31 December 2014, nine months after my departure.

The Anambra State Government must therefore clarify how a state whose recorded external debt was about US$30 million in March 2014 and US$45.15 million in December 2014 could supposedly have inherited US$123.77 million from Peter Obi, who left office in March of that same year.

On the day I left office, I left more than US$150 million as the dollar component of my investment in Anambra State as governor. I hereby provide documents that can be verified with the various banks. Had it remained untouched, this investment was expected to provide Anambra State with approximately US$10 million in annual income.

Even if their assertion were accurate—which it is not—that Anambra owed US$123 million, the government could have used the US$10 million generated annually from my savings to reduce the debt. It has now been 13 years since I left office, which would amount to US$130 million. The debt should have been fully settled by now.

Had they retained the funds I left in the bank, including the compound interest on the principal and the additional income, the total would be approximately US$335 million today. If they had chosen to repay the US$92.35 million funding, the entire amount would have been covered, leaving approximately US$242 million to be reinvested. That sum would have generated about US$20 million annually for Anambra State.

Let me reiterate that, when I left office, I left Anambra State in a strong financial position—the strongest of any state in Nigeria—and I stand by that position.

Through this clarification, I wish to state categorically that I will neither engage nor trade words with anyone regarding my tenure in Anambra State. My focus will now be on issues affecting the suffering Nigerian masses, which is the reason for my presidential ambition.

A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO

Peter Gregory Onwubuasi Obi

Peter obi where is mosquito loan money you collected as governor of anambra state ?

Exactly, do not engage them again on your performance in Anambra State.

Your records are there for anyone who cares to know.

Let any governor in Nigeria present 10% of the accountability and transparency record you have displayed so far.

It is a distraction tactic used by APC to distract Nigerians from severe hunger and the near collapse of the Nigerian economy.

For them not to have anything meaningful to campaign with and to solely depend on any news about PO for their campaign shows how miserably they have failed in governance.

Every right thinking Nigerian knows that with APC at the helm of affairs, even in the next 100 years, no meaningful development will happen in Nigeria because they have recruited the worst type of humans ever seen in Nigerian history to handle its affairs.

Obi kekerenke obi kekerenke

God bless you my President....

yarimo:
Peter obi where is mosquito loan money you collected as governor of anambra state ?

What you wrote up there does it make any sense?

“Mosquito loan money”. What’s that supposed to mean?

Mr Liar still talking.

Obi biko stf and go and rest.

Omoh, these man has his financial activity off hand...I wish I can b like this

God bless Peter Gregory Obi, God punishhh supporters of bad governance and their slavve masters.

Make any governor or past wey get clean slate as Obi come out!

Whether they like it or not sir, you are simply the best. I will vote for you.

A very sad day hearing Obi excelling in lies.

All this overzealous Obidients should hear their Principal! I said it in this same studio that there is no way @peterobi had no debts when he left office. I reiterated that Mbadiniju through to Ngige and Obi had debts, I have been in govt and some should be less emotional! pic.twitter.com/8exF5mqCJa

— kenny Okolugbo (@kennyokolugbo) September 24, 2026

“Even if I had gone to borrow $123m, I didn't spend the money, I kept the loan in fidelity bank for interest, you cannot call it a debt I left”.

- Peter Obi, NDC Presidential Candidate reacts to Gov. Soludo's claim that he left $123m debt. pic.twitter.com/QOk2qCkQtu

— MADE IN LAGOS 🧊💎⚡️🔥 (@papichulo4224) September 24, 2026

i used to joke about this lambarino's lies, i never knew they could get this serious and complicated. Absolute senselessness. How do these people manage to interview him without puking?

Good one Peter Obi. Charles Soludo will surely regret his idiocy.

But why would Obi be keeping govt money in banks instead of using the funds to execute projects?

Borrow2222:
Exactly, do not engage them again on your performance in Anambra State.

Your records are there for anyone who cares to know.

Let any governor in Nigeria present 10% of the accountability and transparency record you have displayed so far.

It is a distraction tactic used by APC to distract Nigerians from severe hunger and the near collapse of the Nigerian economy.

For them not to have anything meaningful to campaign with and to solely depend on any news about PO for their campaign shows how miserably they have failed in governance.

Every right thinking Nigerian knows that with APC at the helm of affairs, even in the next 100 years, no meaningful development will happen in Nigeria because they have recruited the worst type of humans ever seen in Nigerian history to handle its affairs.

https://www.nairaland.com/870945/what-exactly-peter-obi-doing#10196086

Can you still find your comment on this throwback thread?

You go explain taya as your mob says to others

This man should rest with his lies.

He should have made exception to his initial statement that he didn't collect any loan. People will fact check nah, abeg think before you say these things.

GOD hates lies.
Even the present administration has done 150 X worse of what they're accusing Obi of?

Those who live in glass house should not throw stones..

fergie001:
Peter Gregory Onwubuasi Obi

We have verified as you asked us to. Now you're running away?

I will neither engage nor trade words with anyone regarding my tenure in Anambra State.

Your fans will clap zombifully but ask Tinubu to engage and trade words about emptiness of 1993. SMH

"...I only wrote about what Peter Obi left as credit years ago and I have not spoken since the and not debt... I can not talk about Peter Obi's debt..." - Alex Otti https://t.co/GKtu16NWTN pic.twitter.com/EpsWCss6eG

— Emma ik Umeh (Tcee )🇳🇬 (@emmaikumeh) September 25, 2026

yarimo:
Peter obi where is mosquito loan money you collected as governor of anambra state ?

Peter Obi is the only Ex Governor, that ensure he accounts for money, that enters the state purse, He understands
Governance and left the money in both physical and in investment for the interest of the state.
Now mention any politician you are supporting and compare him to PO.

Yes!! This is it sir. This is all a means to distract Obi. But God want it to happen so that more people will come to see the truth. Obi have won more more followers just this few past weeks because of Soludo and umahi. Focus more fighting the rigging plans and Sen Dickson need to throw his full weight behind obi Kwankwaso. A federal gov loan that was wisely managed to raise even more interest for the state. No state past gov can boast of such yet iDio ts try to find fault or merely to distract him

The man that this country needs

Na real character. Listening to him several times, I don't see him as a serious candidate.

Image123:
A very sad day hearing Obi excelling in lies.

All this overzealous Obidients should hear their Principal! I said it in this same studio that there is no way @peterobi had no debts when he left office. I reiterated that Mbadiniju through to Ngige and Obi had debts, I have been in govt and some should be less emotional! pic.twitter.com/8exF5mqCJa

— kenny Okolugbo (@kennyokolugbo) September 24, 2026

“Even if I had gone to borrow $123m, I didn't spend the money, I kept the loan in fidelity bank for interest, you cannot call it a debt I left”.

- Peter Obi, NDC Presidential Candidate reacts to Gov. Soludo's claim that he left $123m debt. pic.twitter.com/QOk2qCkQtu

— MADE IN LAGOS 🧊💎⚡️🔥 (@papichulo4224) September 24, 2026

i used to joke about this lambarino's lies, i never knew they could get this serious and complicated. Absolute senselessness. How do these people manage to interview him without puking?

Borrow2222:
Exactly, do not engage them again on your performance in Anambra State.

Your records are there for anyone who cares to know.

Let any governor in Nigeria present 10% of the accountability and transparency record you have displayed so far.

It is a distraction tactic used by APC to distract Nigerians from severe hunger and the near collapse of the Nigerian economy.

For them not to have anything meaningful to campaign with and to solely depend on any news about PO for their campaign shows how miserably they have failed in governance.

Every right thinking Nigerian knows that with APC at the helm of affairs, even in the next 100 years, no meaningful development will happen in Nigeria because they have recruited the worst type of humans ever seen in Nigerian history to handle its affairs.

We care to know?

Where is the record??

Mention one legacy policy or project Peter OBI left in Anambra that Anambra people are still benefiting from today

We reject good people in power and expect evil people to bring the desired change..

I pity the people who will reject this man. See ehn make I no too talk.

Obi is not taking sense at all. Not even now but right from the outset. He doesn't talk like an intelligent person. Although, pressure can make you talk anyhow sometimes but it shouldn't be every time

fergie001:
Peter Gregory Onwubuasi Obi

You brought the issue to public that you did not owe anything. Now you have been shown you owed something. Why not apologise instead of running away from it?

Obi is a man of integrity and that's why those despicable crooks want to bring him down at all costs.

But God has chosen Peter Obi to fix the serverly battered image of this country by apc the terrorist party.

Data boy verify and get back to Us and also asks APC Governor to give account just 10% of what this man Did.... Government of Criminality. Nigeria will be OK.