Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has challenged Peter Obi’s claim that he saved about $150 million while serving as governor of Anambra State.
Oshiomhole, a former Edo State governor and ex-national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made the remarks during an interview with Symfoni TV published on Thursday.
He questioned how Obi accumulated savings in dollars when the Federal Government disburses allocations to states in naira.
Oshiomhole said he and Obi were members of the National Economic Council, chaired by the vice-president, when governors proposed receiving their allocations in dollars because of the disparity 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 disputed Obi’s assertion that he did not borrow money while serving as governor, arguing that World Bank facilities could be classified as loans even when repayment was deferred.
He said he accessed similar World Bank facilities while serving as Edo State governor, including financial 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 allow a governor to leave office before a loan became due, leaving the successor administration responsible for settling the obligation.
Oshiomhole said he believed this was the point Chukwuma Soludo, the Anambra State governor, had attempted to explain when discussing Obi’s financial record.
He also criticised claims about Obi’s borrowing record, referring to a reception organised by the director-general of the Debt Management Office (DMO) to recognise the former governor for allegedly not applying for loans for approval.
Oshiomhole described the claim as “another lie” but did not provide further details in the interview excerpt to substantiate the allegation.
Obi left office in 2014 after serving two terms and has maintained that he did not burden Anambra State with debts.
He reiterated this position during a recent interview with Arise TV while responding to allegations that he left outstanding loans and liabilities.
However, Law Mefor, Anambra State commissioner for information and value reorientation, previously said Obi left $123.77 million in debt at the end of his tenure.