Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and the Nigeria Democratic Congress’s (NDC) presidential candidate, said that neither the state nor any contractors who had finished work that had been approved by the government owed him pay, gratuities, or pensions when he left office.
In an interview with Arise TV on Thursday, Obi made the assertion in response to enquiries regarding purported obligations and loans connected to his time as governor.
He said that during his eight years in service, he did not visit any financial institution to borrow money or issue bonds on behalf of Anambra State.
“On behalf of Anambra State, I, Mr. Peter Obi, did not approach any financial institution to borrow money or issue bonds.”
Additionally, Obi stated that the state did not owe employees whose payments were due from the state government on the day he turned over.
He claimed that this also applied to suppliers and contractors who had finished their work and whose work had been approved and validated.
“The government of Anambra State, where I served, owed no salary, gratuity, or pension to those scheduled to be paid by the state government on the day I left office,” he declared.
“We owed no contractor or supplier who had completed, certified, and verified his work.” “Not one,” he continued.
Obi clarified that until the job was finished, confirmed, and certified, a contractor’s unfinished project could not be considered an outstanding debt.
According to him, the provisions of the contract between the government and the contractor governed the payment issue.
The dispute between his administration and the current Anambra State Government regarding loans and obligations related to his term was another question posed to the former governor.
Obi described Governor Chukwuma Soludo as the governor of his state, whom he respected, and stated that he did not view the issue as a personal conflict.
Additionally, he urged governors to permit other presidential contenders to openly campaign. He believes that Nigerians ought to have the freedom to choose who they wish to serve.
Obi called on Nigerians and political leaders to put more emphasis on the problems of the nation and the suffering of its people than on what he called needless diversions.