Arise News anchor Rufai Oseni has weighed in on the controversy over alleged debts incurred by former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, arguing that the funds reportedly left behind by the former governor could be sufficient to settle the liabilities claimed by the current administration.
The controversy follows claims by the Anambra State Government that it is still servicing some debts allegedly inherited from Obi’s administration.
Obi, through the Interim Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, subsequently released documents relating to the former governor’s handover records in an attempt to counter the claims that his administration left behind loans and other financial obligations.
According to the documents dated March 17, 2024, a summary of Anambra State’s financial position indicated a net positive balance of more than ₦86 billion at the close of business on the stated date.
Speaking during Arise Television’s Morning Show on Friday, Oseni questioned the need for the state to continue reporting the alleged debt if the funds attributed to Obi’s administration were sufficient to offset the liabilities.
Oseni said:
“Let’s assume Peter Obi actually collected the loan, as the Anambra State Government claims.
“If you remove the amount he left in the state’s account before leaving office, the foreign currency alone would be enough to clear the entire debt Governor Soludo claims he owes, unless there is another debt they are yet to show Nigerians.”
The remarks have added another layer to the ongoing debate over Anambra State’s financial records, particularly the amount allegedly inherited from Obi’s administration and the liabilities subsequently reported by the state government.
While the competing claims have generated public discussion, the figures and the precise nature of the alleged debts remain central to the dispute, with the respective sides presenting different accounts of the state’s financial position.