Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, is facing renewed scrutiny over his financial legacy as a former state chief executive, following a series of accusations made by political commentator and former presidential aide, Reno Omokri.
In a recent public statement, Omokri alleged that Obi misled the public during a recent interview when he claimed to have left behind $150 million and ₦36 billion for the Anambra State Government after completing his tenure in 2014.
Allegations of Debt and Mismanagement
Omokri asserted that rather than leaving a healthy reserve, Obi allegedly left a debt burden of ₦127 billion, much of which was tied to outstanding contractor payments and employment obligations initiated in the final weeks of his administration.
According to Omokri, “Peter Obi left ₦127 billion in debt that was due immediately after he handed over to Governor Willie Obiano.” He further claimed that many of these obligations came from last-minute contract approvals and mass employment exercises carried out without budgetary provisions.
The statement also alleged that some of the funds Obi claimed to have left were invested in underperforming assets, including a $12.6 million investment in Intafact Beverages Limited, which Omokri claimed depreciated significantly in value.
Fidelity Bank Investment Allegations
In what appears to be the most serious allegation, Omokri claimed that Peter Obi placed approximately $20 million of Anambra State funds in Fidelity Bank, where he previously served as a board chairman and reportedly held shares. He argued that this move created a conflict of interest and implied that Obi personally benefited from the interest generated on the deposit.
Claims on Poverty and Education
Omokri also criticized Obi’s educational record, accusing him of failing to build any nursery, primary, secondary school, or university during his time in office. He linked this alleged failure to rising poverty levels in Anambra during Obi’s tenure, citing a reported increase in poverty from 41.4% to 53.7% under his administration.
“Peter Obi increased poverty while pretending to save money. You cannot fight poverty without building schools,” Omokri said.
Calls for Verification
Omokri concluded his remarks by challenging the public and the media to fact-check his statements, reiterating that he stood by the information provided. “If I am lying, let Peter Obi sue me. I have all the facts,” he said.
Background and Context
Peter Obi, who served as Governor of Anambra State from 2006 to 2014, has frequently cited his fiscal discipline and savings record as major achievements. His supporters point to official handover documents and third-party audits that confirmed Obi left ₦75 billion in a combination of cash and investments for his successor.
However, critics argue that these figures do not account for underlying liabilities, including deferred payments and long-term contractual obligations.
As of the time of this report, Peter Obi has not officially responded to the allegations.
