The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has claimed that he left $150 million in Anambra State’s treasury at the end of his administration, insisting that none of his successors has matched the savings he accumulated while serving as governor.
Speaking during Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Obi defended his record in office amid renewed scrutiny of his performance as governor of Anambra State.
According to him, no former governor of the state has been able to save up to 10 percent of the amount he left behind.
“Everybody wants to investigate Peter Obi. I left $150 million. Can any other person who finished here come and say where he left? Nobody asked me to save dollars,” Obi said.
The former governor argued that the funds, if preserved, would have grown significantly due to the appreciation of the dollar.
“The money I saved in Anambra State, if it was there today, it would have been almost getting to a billion dollars. Show me another person who saved $15 million — 10 percent of what I saved,” he added.
Obi Laments Waste in Government
Obi also criticised what he described as excessive government spending and corruption, saying they are among the major reasons many politicians desperately seek public office.
“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 argued that any country where public office holders become wealthier than successful business owners has a serious governance problem.
“Any country where people in office are richer than their businesses, there is something wrong,” Obi stated.
Promises to Reduce Cost of Governance
The former Anambra governor pledged to cut the cost of governance if elected president, saying he had already demonstrated fiscal discipline during his time in office.
“We must shut down this waste and deal with the issues that will protect our people and serve our people properly,” he said.
Obi added that he relied on modest official vehicles throughout his first term as governor as part of efforts to reduce government spending.
The former governor also used the interview to defend other aspects of his administration, including his inability to conduct local government elections during his early years in office, which he attributed to numerous court cases.
His comments come as political activities ahead of the 2027 presidential election continue to gather momentum.
