The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, says he left about $150 million in Anambra State’s treasury at the end of his tenure as governor, stressing that none of his successors has matched the financial reserves he built.
Speaking on Channels Television’s ‘Sunday Politics’, Obi defended his record in office amid renewed scrutiny of his administration, saying his stewardship was marked by fiscal discipline and prudent management of public funds.
He said the savings he left behind remain unmatched, adding that no former governor of the state has been able to account for reserves amounting to even 10 per cent of what his administration accumulated.
“I left $150 million. Can any other person who finished here come and say what they left behind? Nobody asked me to save in dollars,” said Obi, who served as governor of Anambra State from 2006 to 2014.
Obi added that the funds would have appreciated significantly if they had remained intact, estimating that the value could now be close to $1 billion.
The former governor also lamented what he described as the criminalisation of honesty in Nigeria, saying public officials who manage resources responsibly often face greater scrutiny than those accused of mismanaging public funds.
Obi blamed Nigeria’s governance challenges on corruption and what he termed excessive spending by public office holders, saying the high cost of governance has made political positions attractive for personal gain.
Obi maintained that government officials should not accumulate more wealth than entrepreneurs, warning that such a trend reflects a dysfunctional political and economic system.
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He pledged to reduce the cost of governance if elected president, citing his experience as governor where, according to him, he maintained a modest lifestyle and avoided unnecessary government expenditure.
Obi also recalled using the same Peugeot 404 official vehicle throughout his first term in office as part of efforts to promote fiscal responsibility.
“I would cut costs of governance. I’ve done it in the states. In my first four years of being governor, I used four 404 vehicle from beginning to the end,” the former governor said.
Obi, who was impeached in November 2006 over allegations of gross misconduct, was reinstated by the court in February 2007. He later won re-election in 2010 and completed his tenure in March 2014 before handing over to Willie Obiano.
