Former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi
Former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, has finally broken his silence on the controversy raging over the actual amount he left in the coffers of the state when he left office.
Obi’s response came via a text message after several unanswered calls.
He replied: “My brother, thanks for your efforts to hear from me in order to put the records straight concerning the unnecessary controversy over Debt and the N75 billion in investment and cash my government left. I left office almost two years (over 600 days) ago and I will not comment on the statements of my successor, or his proxies.
“All I can confirm is that we never borrowed from any bank in Nigeria, issued any bonds or owed on any certificate for jobs executed when we left office. We handed certified accounts statements. Whatever we said we left is properly documented. Copies of same were made public at an event in Women Development Centre, Awka. The Managing Directors of the three banks in which the respective sums were domiciled and the incumbent governor, were in attendance. Should it be that the government has lost or misplaced its own documents, it can approach the banks. I will also make myself available within 48 hours, complete with my own copies of the documents; as I still have them.
“I will not be seen as working against the progress of Anambra State, a state I did everything possible to put on the right track. All I can tell you is that I will earnestly continue praying for my successor to build a better Anambra State for our children.
“My heart bleeds whenever Anambra is on the news for the wrong reasons. I am also earnestly praying for the President of Nigeria to build a better Nigeria. I am presenting Nigeria as most attractive investment destination in Africa to my class at Cambridge University at 2p.m. today (yesterday).
“Kindly pass this message to your colleagues, because I have been receiving countless texts from them. Inform them that I am engrossed with my programme at Cambridge University to answer them individually.
“My brother, bye and May God continue to bless you and your family.”
However, a document obtained by THISDAY showed bank details totalling N65,041,558,262.1 that Obi handed down to Governor Willie Obiano on March 17, 2014.
A breakdown of the amount had foreign dollars totalling $26,500,000,000 and liquid cash in local currency totalling N38,541,558,262.1. But the same document stated that the amount could be higher.
The Anambra State Government had called a press conference on Saturday and alleged that Obi left a debt of over 100 Billion for his predecessor.
His Media aide, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, had described the claim as untrue, challenging Anambra State Government to publish the contracts and the names of those being owed.
He further called on Association of Anambra Accountants to set up an independent committee to look into Anambra finances as at March 17, 2014 to ascertain the actual amount Obi left in the treasury, insisting that Anambra State is looking for justification for the massive loans they had concluded to take from financial institutions.
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