Yunusa Tanko, the National Coordinator of the Obedient Movement, has publicly defended former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi against allegations that he left significant debts behind during his tenure. Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Friday, Tanko insisted that Obi’s financial records are transparent and available for public verification, challenging critics to check the figures directly with the relevant financial institutions.
Tanko stated that Obi had presented specific financial records and brought bank managers to confirm the funds available at the time of his departure. “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,” Tanko said. He characterized the current dispute over loans and liabilities as an attempt to discredit the former governor rather than an effort to establish the facts, asserting that critics “cannot” contradict Obi’s account because they lack supporting evidence.
Addressing the specific financial claims, Tanko cited Obi’s account of Anambra’s finances at the end of his administration. He noted that the state had systematically liquidated historical debts dating back several years, amounting to approximately 35 billion Naira. “At the point of handover, the state owed nothing in salary, gratuity, or pension,” Tanko added. He further clarified that the disputed N2 billion economic fund was released barely three months before the end of Obi’s tenure and remained untouched in the first bank, with a balance of over 2.3 billion Naira in account 20186764.
Tanko also corrected the narrative regarding the transition of power, emphasizing that Obi handed over the administration 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 stated. Tanko expressed confidence in Obi’s integrity, stating that if evidence were to show any misrepresentation, he would be the first to condemn the former governor. “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,” he said.
Describing the ongoing controversy as “brothers trying to bring brothers down,” Tanko highlighted that Obi has voluntarily disclosed his financial records for the past four to five years. He challenged the media and Obi’s critics to bring the former governor on air to address the figures directly. “Nobody asked His Excellency Mr. Pinto Obi to present facts about his handing over. He did willingly and openly to the people,” Tanko said, concluding that the facts have already been put on record by Obi himself.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
