Obi’s Record As Anambra Governor Often Overstated – Presidency

The Presidency has faulted what it described as the exaggerated portrayal of the record of former Anambra State Governor and Nigerian Democratic Congress( NDC)presidential candidate, Peter Obi, saying his performance in office has often been overstated.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made the remarks in a post on his X handle while responding to the ongoing controversy over Obi’s record as governor of Anambra State.

Onanuga said Obi had challenged the Anambra State Government to verify his claims regarding the debt he left behind, but argued that the former governor and his supporters had yet to directly address the evidence presented by the state government.

He wrote: “Peter Obi challenged the Anambra State Government to verify his record on the debt he left behind. Now that the government has responded, the former presidential candidate and his supporters are struggling for an answer and cannot address the evidence directly.”

According to Onanuga, Obi’s record as governor has frequently been presented in more favourable terms than the available assessment of his administration would support.

“I have said it before: Obi’s record is often overstated,” he stated.

He cited the development of Awka, the Anambra State capital, as one area where he questioned the former governor’s record.

Onanuga said Obi inherited Awka as an underdeveloped capital and, citing an assessment by The Guardian, argued that the city was left largely unchanged at the end of his tenure.

He also faulted Obi’s administration over its handling of erosion, which he described as one of Anambra’s most serious environmental challenges.

The presidential aide further raised the issue of insecurity, saying the security situation had reportedly discouraged many indigenes from returning to the state during the period.

He contrasted this with the administration of Obi’s successor, Willie Obiano, which he said subsequently made progress in addressing the security challenge.

Onanuga also questioned what he described as the scale of Obi’s transformational ambition while governor.

He drew a comparison with President Bola Tinubu’s tenure as governor of Lagos State, citing major projects and initiatives associated with the administration.

According to him, Tinubu’s administration in Lagos initiated and supported projects including the reclamation that enabled the development of Eko Atlantic and the vision for the Lekki Free Trade Zone.

He argued that those initiatives helped lay the groundwork for the development of a new city and a deep seaport.