The Anambra State Government has acknowledged that it did not properly verify the amount actually accessed from a $123 million World Bank loan facility secured during the administration of former Governor Peter Obi before describing the full facility as part of the debt inherited from his administration.
The Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Dr Law Mefor, made the clarification during an appearance on Arise TV’s Morning Show on Friday.
Lefor’s admission followed questions from the programme’s presenter, Rufai Oseni, who referred to Debt Management Office (DMO) records indicating that while the Obi administration entered into an agreement for a $123 million World Bank facility, only about $30 million had reportedly been drawn.
Responding to the challenge, Mefor admitted that he had not independently verified the figure with the DMO before making his earlier statement.
“I did not check properly,” the commissioner said, adding that he would contact the DMO to establish the exact amount accessed under the facility.
According to Mefor, the loan agreement was intended to support eight critical sectors, including education and healthcare.
He, however, maintained that the clarification over the loan amount did not alter the state government’s broader position that the Obi administration left financial obligations when it handed over power in 2014.
“We are not saying that Obi didn’t do his best; what we are responding to is his claim that he did not leave any debts in the state,” he said.
The controversy followed renewed comments by Peter Obi that he left no debt behind when he handed over to his successor, Willie Obiano, on March 17, 2014.
Mefor also alleged that Obi inherited about 16 months of unpaid salaries owed to teachers. He said the former governor paid five months after verification, leaving 11 months outstanding.
The commissioner rejected claims that the Soludo administration was raising the issue because of Obi’s political activities ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said the government was responding specifically to Obi’s assertion that he left no debts when he left office.
Mefor also defended the Soludo administration’s dealings with the Federal Government, arguing that cooperation between state and federal administrations controlled by different political parties was not unusual.
He cited the relationship between Obi’s administration, which was controlled by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and the then Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government.
He also noted that Willie Obiano, who succeeded Obi, worked with the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Mefor added that the APGA-led Anambra Government had not yet commenced its presidential campaign programme.
