Arise News anchor Rufai Oseni has stated that the $156 million former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi left in the state’s coffers is sufficient to clear the alleged debts the current administration under Governor Chukwuma Soludo attributes to Obi’s tenure.
Oseni made the remarks on Friday, September 18, 2026, during Arise Television’s Morning Show.
The comments come amid a renewed dispute between Obi and the Anambra State Government over the financial position of the state when Obi handed over power on March 17, 2014.
The state government, through Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation Law Mefor, recently released records claiming that eight external loans linked to projects during or connected to Obi’s administration remained outstanding.
It put the combined outstanding balance at about $92.35 million, equivalent to roughly N127.4 billion as of June 30, 2026, based on the official exchange rate. The original value of the loans was given as approximately $123.77 million.
The facilities were said to cover areas including malaria control, erosion and watershed management, education, healthcare, Fadama development, and value-chain programmes. The government has also referenced other liabilities such as unpaid pensions, gratuities, and salary arrears.
Obi’s camp has rejected the debt claims. Through Yunusa Tanko, Interim Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, it released handover documents dated March 17, 2014 (with some reports referencing a 2024 presentation of the records).
The documents summarised Anambra’s financial position as of the close of business around the handover period and indicated a net positive balance of over N86 billion after accounting for estimated liabilities.
Obi has long maintained that he left substantial savings, including foreign currency holdings commonly cited in the range of $150–156 million alongside naira balances and investments, and that he did not leave unpaid salaries, pensions, gratuities, or processed contractor obligations.
Responding to the latest exchange, Oseni said: “Let’s assume Peter Obi actually collected the loan, as the Anambra State Government claims. If you remove the amount he left in the state’s account before leaving office, the foreign currency alone would be enough to clear the entire debt Governor Soludo claims he owes, unless there is another debt they are yet to show Nigerians.”
The $156 million figure aligns with earlier detailed claims by Obi and supporting records of dollar holdings left in Nigerian banks at the end of his tenure.
Oseni’s intervention adds to the public debate over the interpretation of the handover finances and the ongoing servicing of external loans through mechanisms that include deductions from the state’s Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) revenues.
The dispute continues to generate political attention ahead of the 2027 elections, with both sides presenting documents and figures to support their positions. Independent verification of the full set of historical accounts, debt-service records from the Debt Management Office, and the disposition of the reported savings remains a matter of public interest.
This report is based on statements made on Arise Television and official releases from the parties involved as covered by Nigerian media outlets on September 18, 2026, and preceding days.
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