The APC PCC revived Obi Anambra’s record, telling him to withdraw from the presidential race

The Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has nowhere to hide after the lies built around him were torn apart.

His spokesperson, Dele Alake, in a statement issued Monday, said in the last four years, Obi and his supporters packaged his tenure as Anambra governor as one defined by extraordinary fiscal prudence, including the claim that he left Anambra debt-free.

He stressed that Obi himself is presented as a very clean politician, but everything comes out as a well-packaged lie.

Alake said: “The falsehoods built around Peter Obi, the NDC presidential candidate, have now been torn apart, and Obi’s personality deconstructed following revelations by the Anambra State Government, which responded to Obi’s challenge to verify his track record.”

He said according to the Anambra State Government, the former governor spent about $4.05 billion, or N5.4 trillion, during his eight years in office and contracted external loans of $123.77 million.

The spokesperson said that the state also disclosed that, since Obi left office on March 17, 2014, there had been eight different foreign loans for malaria, erosion control, education, and health services, and successive administrations, including Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration, had continued to repay these debts.

Alake noted: “Borrowing is not unwise when used for development. But for someone who prides himself on being tough and often claims that he left the state in good health, these revelations confirm what has long been held: Obi is an irredeemable liar, a mediocre governor, unfit to be a leader anywhere.

“What is even more baffling is that despite loans, Obi has nothing to show for his leadership in various sectors in Anambra. He failed to pay salaries of workers in several ministries. Water Company staff were among those protesting non-payment of salaries.”

Alake recalled that in a memo to Obi, dated April 25, 2006, Chuks Ileogbunam, Obi’s Chief of Staff, appealed to the governor to pay a monthly salary of N15 million to the Water Company workers to avert protests at the governor’s office over unpaid salaries.

He said that at that time Obi was serving his second month of office.

“As Your Majesty’s desire to achieve a better future for our children and our children’s children is an unchanging desire, please remember, Sir, that the Water Company officials also have children who look to you for compassionate leadership.

“The President listened with compassion to your plea on behalf of the children of Anambra. I am 200 percent confident that you will listen to the cries of the children whose parents work at the Drinking Water Company and end their suffering,” Ileogunam requested in the memo.

Alake emphasized that just as Obi promised to withdraw from the presidential race if it was proven that he had left a debt burden on Anambra State, the letter also revealed that Obi also promised the people of Anambra during his campaign that he would resign as governor “if there is a case where workers are not paid appropriately and on time”.

The spokesman of course said he never intended to do this, saying he was simply tricking the public into voting for him, and stressed that when he left office in 2014, he left his successors with an even bigger backlog to clear.

He added: “We advise Obi to cleanse himself of his lies and seek forgiveness from the people of Anambra rather than running around platforms and parroting stupidity.

“Even more concerning for Obi’s followers is Obi’s recent solidarity visit to a person facing EFCC trial for unexplained wealth and enormous corruption.

“It is true, if Peter Obi has any honour, he should immediately withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, in line with his promise to end his candidacy if it is proven that his administration is abandoning its responsibilities in Anambra.”