NEWS
Anambra Information Commissioner, Law Mefor, Acknowledges Peter Obi’s Performance, Explains Dispute Over Financial Records
Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Law Mefor, has acknowledged the performance of former Anambra State Governor and 2027 presidential candidate Peter Obi, while clarifying the state government’s position on the ongoing scrutiny of the financial records of his administration.
Mefor made the clarification on Thursday during an interview on the 90MinutesAfrica podcast, hosted by Rudolf Okonkwo, where he addressed the controversy surrounding the financial legacy of the administration of Obi, who governed Anambra State from 2006 to 2013.
According to the commissioner, the decision by the current administration to examine Obi’s financial records should not be interpreted as an attempt to discredit his achievements as governor or undermine his political ambitions.
Mefor explained that the central issue was the former governor’s claim that his administration left no financial liabilities for subsequent administrations to inherit.
He said the state government’s position was focused on establishing clarity over the state’s financial records and determining whether the claims attributed to the previous administration were supported by official documentation.
A major point raised by the commissioner was Obi’s reported claim that his administration left ₦12.13 billion in an ecological fund account with First Bank’s University of Nigeria, Awka (UNIZIK), branch.
Mefor said the state government sought the relevant account statement from the bank in an effort to verify the claim.
According to him, the statement obtained by the government did not show evidence of the claimed ₦12.13 billion balance.
He stressed that the verification exercise was about establishing what was contained in the state’s financial records rather than launching a political attack against the former governor.
Mefor also sought to draw a distinction between the financial disagreement and the political relationship between Obi and incumbent Governor Chukwuma Soludo, saying the two politicians have their respective political interests.
“The intention of the Anambra State government is not to indict Peter Obi. Peter Obi did well as governor.
“There is no rift between Governor Soludo and Peter Obi. They are both in politics, and they have their interests to defend,” Mefor said.
The commissioner’s comments come amid continuing public debate over the financial position of Anambra State under successive administrations and the claims surrounding what was inherited by governments that came after Obi.
While acknowledging Obi’s record as governor, Mefor maintained that the state government considers it necessary to establish the facts surrounding specific financial claims through official records.
The remarks therefore present the issue as a disagreement over the interpretation and verification of financial records, rather than a blanket rejection of Obi’s performance in office.
The controversy also comes against the backdrop of Obi’s continued prominence in national politics, making statements concerning his record in Anambra particularly significant as political discussions ahead of the 2027 general elections intensify.