“I have no quarrel with Soludo” — Peter Obi breaks silence on Anambra debt

Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has said he has no disagreement with his successor, Chukwuma Soludo, amid the ongoing dispute over debts and financial obligations linked to projects implemented during his administration.

Mr Obi also said he would not seek the governorship of any state again, even if the Constitution were amended to allow him to do so.

He made the clarification on Friday while addressing issues that have recently generated public debate, including claims surrounding Anambra State’s external debt.

Mr Obi said his recent silence on the debt controversy was partly because he had been mourning his late elder brother and friend, Chief Okey Ezeibe.

“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,” he said.

The former governor also appealed to state governors to allow presidential candidates and other contestants to campaign freely in their states, regardless of their political affiliations.

“Accordingly, I 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,” Mr Obi stated.

The comments came amid a disagreement between the Anambra State Government and Mr Obi over external borrowings associated with projects implemented during his tenure.

The state government had said eight external borrowing facilities linked to projects during Mr Obi’s administration had a combined contracted value of $123.77m, with $92.35m outstanding as of 30 June 2026, citing figures from the Debt Management Office.

Mr Obi rejected the description of the entire $123.77m as “debt left by Peter Obi”, arguing that the figures should be separated into the amount approved, the amount actually drawn and the outstanding balance.

“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,” he argued.

Obi explains loan arrangements

Mr Obi maintained that he did not personally approach any financial institution to borrow funds or issue a bond on behalf of Anambra State.

“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,” he said.

He added that the facilities were primarily development programmes negotiated by the Federal Government through institutions including the World Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, with participating states accessing the funds through subsidiary arrangements.

“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,” Mr Obi said.

He, however, acknowledged that the state had repayment responsibilities, saying each facility should be assessed based on its approval, effectiveness, drawdown and repayment record.

Obi challenges debt figures

Mr Obi also questioned how the $123.77m figure attributed to his administration was calculated.

He cited DMO records which, according to him, showed that Anambra’s total external debt stood at about $18m when he assumed office in March 2006 and approximately $30m when he left office in March 2014.

He further cited a figure of about $45.15m as of 31 December 2014, nine months after his departure.

“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,” he said.

Mr Obi consequently asked the Anambra State Government to clarify how the state could have inherited $123.77m from him when the DMO records he cited put the state’s external debt at about $30m when he left office.

No unpaid salaries, pensions — Obi

The former governor also maintained that his administration left no unpaid salaries, gratuities or pensions and had no verified debts owed to contractors or suppliers who had completed and certified work.

“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,” he stated.

Mr Obi said political actors should focus on the difficulties facing Nigerians rather than allowing political disagreements to dominate public attention.

“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,” he said.

He urged Nigerians and political actors to concentrate on the challenges confronting the country and the hardship experienced by citizens.

The dispute over Anambra’s financial obligations remains centred on how the various development facilities were approved, accessed, drawn down and repaid, with the state government and Mr Obi presenting different interpretations of the figures.