Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has vigorously defended his financial stewardship, asserting that he left $150 million in the state's treasury upon leaving office in 2014. He has thrown down the gauntlet to his successors, demanding they prove they have saved even a fraction of that amount.
Obi's Treasury Challenge
Speaking on Channels Television's Sunday Politics, Obi declared: "I left $150 million. Can any other person who finished here come and say where he left?" He further challenged: "Show me another person who saved $15 million, ten percent of what I saved." Obi emphasized that the decision to keep the funds in US dollars was his own initiative, claiming no one instructed him to do so.
According to Obi, if the $150 million had remained untouched, it would now be worth "almost getting to a billion dollars." He argued that his record demonstrates prudent financial management, which he considers one of his greatest achievements in public office.
Critique of Government Waste
Obi linked his Anambra record to broader criticisms of governance in Nigeria. He asserted that excessive government spending and pervasive corruption have made political office unduly attractive. "There is too much waste in our governance. There is too much corruption. That is why people are fighting to go to office," he said. He further remarked that a country is on the wrong path when public officials become wealthier than business owners.
To underscore his claim of prudent leadership, Obi recalled using the same Peugeot 404 official vehicle throughout his first four years as governor, rather than replacing it with newer models as was customary.
Looking Ahead to 2027
As the 2027 presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Obi said he would reduce the cost of governance if elected president by cutting waste and spending public funds more efficiently. He previously served as Anambra governor until March 2014 after being impeached in 2006, reinstated in 2007 by the courts, and re-elected in 2010.
Earlier, Obi urged President Bola Tinubu not to seek re-election in 2027, arguing that Nigeria needs different leadership to address economic hardship, insecurity, and other national challenges. He described Tinubu as appearing tired and no longer the leader he was as Lagos governor.
