The Anambra State Government has admitted that it did not properly verify how much of a $123m World Bank loan facility obtained during the administration of former Governor Peter Obi was actually drawn before citing the full amount as a debt left by the former governor.
The Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Dr Law Mefor, made the admission during an appearance on the Arise TV Morning Show on Friday.
Mefor was challenged by the programme presenter, Rufai Oseni, over the government’s earlier reference to the $123m facility.
Oseni cited Debt Management Office records indicating that although the Obi administration signed for a $123m World Bank facility, about $30m was reportedly drawn.
Responding, Mefor admitted that he had not checked the figure with the DMO before making the claim.
“I did not check properly,” the commissioner said, adding that he would contact the DMO to establish the actual amount accessed from the facility.
Mefor said his understanding was that the loan agreement covered eight critical sectors, including education and healthcare.
He, however, maintained that the admission did not amount to a withdrawal of the state government’s broader position that Obi left financial obligations when he left office 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 dispute followed renewed claims by Obi that he left no debt when he handed over to his successor, Willie Obiano, on March 17, 2014.
Mefor also alleged that Obi inherited about 16 months of unpaid teachers’ salaries but paid five months after verification, leaving 11 months outstanding.
The commissioner rejected suggestions 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 to Obi’s claim that he left no debts when he left office.
Mefor also defended the Soludo administration’s relationship with the Federal Government, saying cooperation between state and federal governments controlled by different political parties was not unusual.
He cited Obi’s administration under the All Progressives Grand Alliance and the Peoples Democratic Party-led Federal Government as examples.
He also noted that Obiano, who succeeded Obi, worked with the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Mefor said the APGA-led state government had yet to commence its presidential campaign programme.
