Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has challenged the Anambra State government to provide evidence that his administration left behind unpaid debts, salaries, pensions or contractor liabilities.
In a statement posted on his official social media page on Monday, Obi responded to claims by the state government that it inherited debts from his tenure, including a N2 billion ecological loan.
He described the allegations as false, stating that his administration cleared historical gratuities and arrears amounting to more than N35 billion. According to Obi, there were no outstanding salaries, gratuities or pensions at the time he handed over power. He added that contractors were paid for all projects that had been duly executed and certified.
On the ecological fund, Obi explained that the N2 billion was released about three months before the end of his tenure specifically for the Oko/Umuchiana erosion crisis. He said he deliberately refused to spend the money and left it for his successor because it was tied to that particular project.
Obi further noted that the ecological fund was separate from more than N75 billion in savings his administration claimed to have left behind.
“If anybody can establish anything to the contrary, I will stop campaigning,” Obi declared.