A former Secretary to the Anambra State Government, Oseloka Obaze, has disclosed that former governor Peter Obi left ₦86.6 billion in the state’s treasury when he handed over power in 2014.
Obaze, who served as SSG during Obi’s administration between 2006 and 2014, made the claim in a post on 𝕏 on Thursday amid the ongoing controversy over the financial records successive administrations inherited in the state.
The former SSG said he was present on March 17, 2014, when Obi formally handed over documents detailing the state’s finances to his successor, Willie Obiano.
According to him, Obiano received and acknowledged his copy of the handover letter, which included certified bank statements and other supporting documents.
“I was also present when Governor Willie Obiano received and signed an acknowledgement for his own copy of the letter, complete with the annexed certified bank statements, related documents and the Handover Report,” Obaze wrote.
He also shared a copy of the handover letter, saying it detailed the state’s assets and liabilities.
“The letter listed assets and liabilities, in black and red (respectively),” he said.
Obaze further recalled the 2017 Anambra governorship debate organised by Channels Television, where Obiano was said to have questioned claims concerning funds allegedly left by the previous administration.
He said he challenged Obiano during the debate to explain how he could have accepted the financial documents at handover and later express reservations about the funds.
“I recall asking him (Obiano) on national television how, as a certified accountant and auditor, he would sign off and accept financial documents, for which he now was expressing reservations,” Obaze said.
According to the former SSG, Obiano subsequently acknowledged that certain funds had been left by the Obi administration, while questioning the wisdom of keeping money when there were projects to execute.
“He (Obiano) then publicly acknowledged for the first time that some specified funds were in place and asked what was the use of saving money, when there was work to be done,” he added.
Obaze also cited a conversation with former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku, claiming that Obiano told members of the Nigerian Press Corps that Obi left substantial funds to finance the construction of the Anambra Airport at Umueri.
He also cited comments attributed to Abia State Governor Alex Otti, a former banker, as additional public corroboration of the claim that Obi’s administration left funds.
Obaze questioned why the financial records had remained a subject of controversy under the current administration.
“If Governor Obiano to whom Peter Obi handed over to, in 2014 would eventually acknowledge, implicitly and explicitly, that Governor Peter Obi indeed left the stipulated funds; a fact that was also publicly corroborated by Governor Alex Otti, in his capacity as an ex-banker, what then, one may ask, is the beef and grouse of the incumbent Anambra State Government?” he asked
