He acknowledged Obi’s performance as governor but said the
disagreement centred on the former governor’s claim that he left no financial
liabilities for successive administrations.
“The intention of the Anambra state government is not to
indict Peter Obi,” he said.
“Peter Obi did well as governor.”
Mefor said the government’s objective was to clarify the
state’s financial records.
The commissioner also disputed Obi’s claim that he left no financial liabilities for subsequent administrations.
He questioned Obi’s claim that his administration left N2.13
billion in an ecological fund account with First Bank’s University of Nigeria,
Awka (UNIZIK) branch.
Mefor said the state government requested the relevant
account statement from the bank but could not find evidence of the claimed
balance.
“Peter Obi told us that he left N2.13 billion ecological
fund in a First Bank account at the UniZik branch. We went to the bank and
demanded the account statement. There was no N2.13 billion in that account,
either as an inflow or a balance at any time,” he said.
He challenged Obi to publish the bank statement if he
believes the government’s claim is inaccurate.
“We can’t see the money. I think it is fair enough to say
that if he thinks that we are lying, he should print it out and publish it,”
the commissioner said.
Mefor also faulted Obi’s claim that his administration did
not leave loan liabilities for subsequent governments.
According to him, Obi’s administration obtained eight loans
and drew down on some of them, leaving repayments for successive
administrations.
“Nobody is against a government taking loans. Peter Obi took
loans and we are not saying it’s wrong. He took eight loans and he drew down on
some of them. He did not repay, so he passed it down to the successive
governments,” he said.
Mefor said borrowing was not inherently wrong, particularly
when funds are used for projects capable of delivering public benefits.
He cited education, malaria control, agriculture and erosion
management as areas for which Obi administration borrowed funds.
“We agree that these were noble reasons, but he shouldn’t
say he didn’t take loans,” he said.
The commissioner also referred to records of the Debt
Management Office (DMO), saying they showed that Anambra had domestic debt
running into billions of naira when Obi left office.
Mefor said Soludo’s decision not to borrow since assuming
office should not be interpreted as opposition to borrowing.
He said the current administration could consider borrowing
where the funds are tied to specific projects capable of generating sufficient
resources to repay the loans.
“Although Governor Soludo has not taken any loan, that does
not mean that a loan is bad,” he said.
Mefor said the state’s position was not that previous
administrations were wrong to borrow.
He said the issue was Obi’s claim that his administration
did not leave loan liabilities behind.
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