The controversy over the financial legacy of former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has intensified, with his media aide, Valentine Obienyem, challenging the debt records released by the administration of Governor Charles Soludo.
Obienyem accused the Soludo administration of using what he described as “revisionist history” to portray Obi’s eight-year administration as leaving behind excessive debts and inadequate development.
The Anambra State Government had earlier released records showing eight external borrowing facilities associated with projects during Obi’s tenure, with the outstanding balance put at $92.35 million, equivalent to about N127.37 billion as of June 30, 2026. Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Law Mefor, said the obligations were still being serviced through deductions from the state’s monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee revenue.
But Obienyem disputed the interpretation of the figures, arguing that the facilities included multilateral and concessionary development programmes involving institutions such as the World Bank, International Development Association and IFAD.
He said treating such development credits in the same category as commercial loans or high-interest borrowing was misleading.
According to him, some of the projects cited by the state government, including the State Education Programme Investment Project, Community and Social Development Project and Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, were either not drawn down during Obi’s tenure or were implemented substantially rewrite this story with a catchy headline Sun style tags and Meta description
ECOWAS, France Move to Strengthen Cooperation on Regional Security
By Stella Omona
Abuja
The President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, General Birame Diop, has reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with France on regional security and stability.
Diop stated this when the French Ambassador to ECOWAS, Marc Fonbaustier, visited him in Abuja, a statement said on Saturday.
The meeting focused on deepening relations between ECOWAS and France, as well as addressing security challenges confronting the West African region.
The two officials discussed threats including terrorism, organised crime, insecurity, cybercrime, cross-border crime, misinformation and disinformation, which continue to undermine peace and stability in the region.
Diop expressed appreciation for the longstanding friendship and cooperation between ECOWAS and France, while pledging to contribute to further strengthening the relationship.
“We will add our own values to these relationships that we have inherited from our predecessors,” he said.
The ECOWAS Commission President also underscored the importance of sustained cooperation in addressing emerging security challenges and promoting stability across West Africa by subsequent administrations.
Obienyem particularly challenged the presentation of NEWMAP as a conventional loan incurred and spent by Obi.
He said Obi’s administration had lobbied for the erosion-control programme and paid a N500 million counterpart contribution, but that the actual disbursement and implementation of several projects occurred after Obi left office in March 2014.
The argument contrasts with the position of the Anambra State Government, which maintains that the facilities remain loans regardless of whether they were sovereign-backed or concessionary. Mefor said the fact that some of the financing was guaranteed by the Federal Government did not convert the obligations into grants.
Obienyem also rejected claims concerning Obi’s record in education and healthcare, listing projects and interventions he said were undertaken during the former governor’s tenure.
He cited the rehabilitation of public schools, construction of classroom blocks, provision of computers and internet facilities, teacher recruitment and welfare, as well as investments in tertiary institutions.
On healthcare, he pointed to the construction and development of health facilities, including the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital in Awka, and partnerships with mission-owned hospitals across the state.
He also cited interventions in immunisation, maternal and child healthcare, hospital accreditation and medical infrastructure as evidence that Obi’s administration invested substantially in the sector.
The former governor’s camp further disputed claims that Obi left unpaid pensions and gratuities, saying records should be produced showing the specific arrears allegedly inherited by subsequent administrations.
Obienyem said the disagreement over the Water Corporation should similarly be resolved through documentary evidence showing what was owed, what was paid and by which administration.
He also defended claims about savings allegedly left by Obi, citing a 2020 column by Abia State Governor Alex Otti, who was then a former bank chief executive.
According to Obienyem, Otti had described how Obi invested $155 million across three commercial banks shortly before leaving office, with the investment later appreciating significantly in naira terms.
The debt controversy comes after the Anambra State Government publicly released what it described as records of loans and other liabilities allegedly inherited from Obi’s administration. The government said the original value of eight external facilities was about $123.77 million, with $92.35 million outstanding as of June 30, 2026.
Obi has disputed the claims, while the state government has maintained that the records speak for themselves.
Obienyem called for the specific debts, liabilities, dates, amounts, beneficiaries and repayment records to be made public, arguing that the debate should be settled through verifiable financial records rather than political claims.
He said: “If there are debts, let the specific debts be identified; if there are liabilities, let the dates, purposes, amounts and beneficiaries be stated.”
The dispute has become part of the wider political debate ahead of the 2027 elections, with Obi expected to contest the presidency under the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
This version keeps the claims attributed to Obi’s camp while also presenting the Anambra government’s position, so the story remains suitable for straight-news publication rather than advocacy.
