PETER OBI INSISTS,I LEFT N75BN FOR WILLIE OBIANO,CALLS FOR INDEPENDENT PROBE

Former Governor of Anambra State,Peter Obi has once again said that contrary what Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State said that he did not receive any N75 billion in cash and investments from his predecessor, the former governor’s media aide, Valentine Obienyem, has called for a committee to investigate the matter even as he advised the state government to concentrate on showing the people what they have invested for them or projects executed rather than dancing around another man’s investment for the state.
In a statement, Obienyem expressed shock that Anambra government just realised after two years that what was handed over to them was not as stated.
During a press conference on Saturday, Obiano, speaking through the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Solo Chukwulobelu, said he only received “N9 billion cash and N26 billion ‘near cash’ from his predecessor.”
He also said he inherited over N100 million owed contractors on different contracts in the state.
Obienyem who said the word “near cash” was alien to him as well as to all the experts on money, called on the Anambra State Government to explain what they meant by that.
He asked whether by “near cash”, they meant they received an unknown money or perhaps, Biafran pounds.
Obienyem said the issues raised by the state government were weighty that professional organisations such as the association of accountants from Anambra should independently set up a committee and investigate the true position of Anambra finances and report back to Anambra people.
“I am saying this because for two years they said nothing until the plan to massively borrow money from the banks. emerged. I am aware that Obi left as follows: N27billion in local currency investment; N26.5 billion in foreign currency investment; N28.1 billion in certified state/ MDS balances.”
Obienyem stated that he was aware that Mr. Obi had all the certified bank balances of Anambra State accounts in different banks as at March 17, 2014, the day of handover, to warrant anybody trying to misrepresent facts on that. He wondered what would have happened to all the money Obi left if he was not professional enough to have kept documentary evidence.
On the over N100 billion the state government said it inherited from Obi, Obienyem said it was unfair for it to say such a thing.
“When Obi became governor, he completed both Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju and Dr. Chris Ngige’s contracts such as Otuocha, Umuchu-Owelle-Ezukala, Awka Etiti roads.
He also started from the scratch some like the Zik’s Avenue, Ebenebe roads that were awarded by his predecessor.
”In his own case, Obi did not owe a single contractor before leaving office. He paid for all the certificates generated on already awarded contracts. I do not know if the present government at Awka is saying that he ought to pay for all awarded contracts, whether completed or not. ”