The Anambra State government has told Peter Obi, presidential candidate of Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, that governance is about prioritising citizens’ welfare, and not saving in banks for interests while the people suffer.
Recall that state government has repeatedly said Obi left $123.77 million debt while leaving office.
Also, the government said, loans were obtained for projects, including malaria control, education, healthcare, erosion management, community development, and value chain development.
However, Obi has denied the claim, noting that he left over $150 million in Anambra’s treasury and investments.
“As at the time I left office, the dollar components of my savings invested in various bonds were over $150 million, which gives Anambra state guaranteed income of about $10 million yearly,” Obi said.
According to him, if he actually left a $123.77 million debt, then the yields from the $150 million would have paid off the debt by now, leaving the principal intact.
In fact, he challenged the Anambra State government to prove that his administration left behind unpaid debts, salaries, pensions or contractor liabilities.
Anambra govt’s response
Reacting, on Friday the Anambra state government released documents alleging that Obi’s administration also left N363 million in salary arrears owed to workers, among other outstanding debts.
Then on Saturday, the state government, in a statement by Law Mefor, Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, accused Obi of placing primacy on savings over the peoples’ welfare, and concealing debts while handing over in 2014.
The statement read in part: “How much money would H.E. Peter Obi ascribe to the lives of the millions of people pulled out of poverty?
“Please, Your Excellency, Peter Obi: governance and development are different from trading where everything is primarily about profit and loss account without much consideration for human life.
“Indeed, if government savings and interest income constitute an indicator of governance performance, perhaps it should have been one of the MDGs or SDGs, and governments would start competing as to who saves the most rather than who improves the security and welfare of the people the most.”
Anambra government said there were widespread development gaps during Obi’s administration.
Mefor listed poor infrastructure, weak public health and education systems, lack of pipe-borne water, over 900 active gully erosion sites among the shortcomings of Obi’s government.
He said investment in human capital and infrastructure could yield greater social and economic returns than the financial interest generated by keeping money in banks.
