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National Coordinator of the Obedient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, has defended former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi over claims that he left debts behind, insisting that the former governor’s financial records are available for verification.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Friday, Tanko said Obi had presented financial records and brought bank managers to confirm the funds available when he left office, challenging anyone disputing the figures to verify them with the banks.
“They confirmed that such amount of money, A, B, C, D, is in their bank account. If anybody wants to contradict that, let them go to the bank. It’s verifiable.”
Responding to claims over loans and liabilities allegedly left by Obi, Tanko said the dispute was, in his view, aimed at discrediting the former governor rather than establishing the facts.
“So because the man is convinced of whatever he’s saying, so you can see clearly that this particular statement by the commissioner is not about, It’s about probably trying to bring Mr. Peter Obi down, but let me say this very clearly.”
He added, “His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi cannot be brought down because this is an issue that has been on for years, and he has made it categorically clear.” On whether Obi’s critics could contradict his account, Tanko said, “They cannot. Because they know that they don’t have facts.”
Tanko cited Obi’s account of Anambra’s finances at the end of his tenure, saying, “We systematically liquidated historical debt, dating back several years, amounting to about 35 billion Naira. At the point of handover, the state owed nothing in salary, gratuity, or pension.”
He also addressed the disputed N2 billion economic fund, saying, “Two billion Naira economic fund in question was released barely three months before the end of my tenure.”
According to him, the money remained untouched and was reflected in the handover records. “The money was thereof left 100% intact in the first bank. They quoted the account. The first bank in account 20186764, with a balance of over 2.3 billion Naira.”
Tanko clarified that Obi handed over power to former governor Willie Obiano, not the incumbent, Charles Soludo. “His Excellency did not hand over payment to Mr Soludo. He handed over his payment to Mr Obiano.”
He added that he would condemn Obi himself if evidence showed that the former governor had misrepresented the records. “If I know and I see anything that I have not convinced, I personally, I will be the first person to come out and say Mr Obiano has lied. This is not the situation.”
Describing the dispute as “brothers trying to bring brothers down”, Tanko said Obi had publicly maintained that he would accept the consequences if evidence established that he took loans or left debts in Anambra. He also questioned whether those challenging Obi would accept the same standard of accountability if their own financial records were scrutinised.
Tanko maintained that Obi had voluntarily disclosed his financial records and challenged the former governor’s critics to confront him directly over the figures.
“Nobody asked His Excellency Mr. Pinto Obi to present facts about his handing over. He did willingly and openly to the people.” He added, “And he has been doing this since almost four to five years ago. Still today, they are still searching.”
He further challenged the programme to bring Obi on air to answer questions about the figures, saying, “I challenge you as a spokesperson if you can bring Mr. Pinto Obi here next week.
So let’s challenge him on these numbers.” Tanko concluded that Obi should provide any further clarification himself, adding, “These are facts that have already been put in by His Excellency Mr. Peter Obi.”
