Adams Oshiomhole, senator representing Edo north, has questioned Peter Obi’s claim that he saved about $150 million during his stint as governor of Anambra state.
Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo state and ex-national
chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), spoke during an interview on
Symfoni TV published on Thursday.
He questioned how Obi accumulated dollar savings when the
federal government pays states’ allocations in naira.
Oshiomhole said he and Obi were members of the national
economic council, chaired by the vice-president, when governors pushed for
their allocations to be paid in dollars because of differences between the
official exchange rate and the market rate.
He added that the federal government rejected the proposal,
insisting that the naira was Nigeria’s recognised currency.
“Where did you get dollars to save? Did you receive naira
from Abuja and go to bid for dollars to save for Anambra state?” Oshiomhole
queried.
OSHIOMHOLE QUESTIONS OBI’S CLAIM ON LOANS
Oshiomhole also challenged Obi’s claim that he did not
borrow money while serving as governor, arguing that World Bank facilities
could constitute loans even when repayment was deferred.
He said he also accessed World Bank facilities as Edo
governor, including instruments known as budget support.
“If you are not paying it immediately, it’s not a loan? It’s
in the books, and a future government will necessarily pay it anyway,”
Oshiomhole said.
He added that repayment moratoriums could mean that a
governor leaves office before a loan becomes due, leaving a successor
administration to meet the obligation.
Oshiomhole said he believed this was the point Chukwuma
Soludo, Anambra governor, had sought to explain in discussing Obi’s financial
record.
Oshiomhole also criticised claims on Obi’s borrowing record,
referring to a reception organised by the director-general of the Debt
Management Office (DMO) to acknowledge the former governor for allegedly not
applying for loans for approval.
He described the claim as “another lie” but did not provide
further details in the interview excerpt to substantiate the allegation.
Obi, who left office in 2014 after serving two terms, has
insisted that he did not burden the state with debts.
He reiterated the claim during a recent interview on Arise
TV while responding to allegations that he left outstanding loans and
liabilities.
Law Mefor, Anambra commissioner for information and value
reorientation, previously said Obi left $123.77 million in debt at the end of
his tenure.
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