Anambra Borrowings: ‘The Evidence Is Clear, desist from deceiving Nigerians’ – Presidency knocks Peter Obi

The Presidency has criticised the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, over the ongoing controversy surrounding the financial records of his administration as governor of Anambra State.

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, accused Obi of attempting to mislead Nigerians with what he described as “sanctimonious sermons.”

Onanuga made the remarks in a post on his verified X handle on Thursday amid the dispute between Obi and the Anambra State Government over debts and other financial obligations allegedly inherited from his tenure.

The Anambra State Government, under Governor Chukwuma Soludo, has claimed that the state is still servicing some debts incurred during Obi’s administration.

Reacting to the controversy, Onanuga said the records of Obi’s spending and borrowing while in office raised questions about his capacity to manage the larger Nigerian federation.

“The evidence is clear. If a small, homogeneous state like Anambra could not be transformed despite $4.05 billion in spending and massive borrowing, how can the same manager promise to fix a complex federation of 36 states and the FCT?” he wrote.

The presidential aide also criticised Obi’s eight-year tenure as governor, describing it as a failure and accusing the former governor of attempting to present a different account of his administration.

“Mr Obi’s eight years were an unmitigated failure, now masked by revisionism. He should desist from deceiving Nigerians with sanctimonious sermons,” Onanuga added.

The remarks come amid competing claims over the financial position Obi left behind when he handed over power in Anambra.

While the state government has raised questions over outstanding debts and other financial obligations, Obi has rejected the allegations and maintained that he left office without outstanding debts, unpaid salaries, pensions, gratuities or obligations to contractors for duly executed projects.

Onanuga also questioned reports of a proposed four-year single-term arrangement involving Obi and his running mate ahead of the 2027 election.

He argued that such an arrangement would conflict with the two-term, eight-year constitutional provision governing the tenure of the Nigerian presidency.

“The desperation is even clearer in his reported four-year single-term pact with his running mate, in direct contradiction of the two-term, eight-year provision of the 1999 Constitution,” Onanuga said.

The exchange adds to the growing political debate over Obi’s record as Anambra governor and the competing claims surrounding the state’s finances ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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