Will You Stop Campaigning Now?” — Wike’s Aide Dares Peter Obi Over Anambra Debt Evidence

The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, Lere Olayinka, has challenged the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, to stop his campaign following the release of documents by the Anambra State Government over alleged outstanding debts incurred during his tenure as governor.

According to reports, Obi had earlier stated that he would stop campaigning if anyone could provide evidence that he left debts or loans behind when he left office as governor of Anambra State.

Obi, who governed the state between 2006 and 2014, has maintained that he left no debt behind at the end of his administration.

However, the Anambra State Government has disputed the claim, saying available records indicate that some liabilities incurred during, or inherited by, the Obi administration remained outstanding.

In a statement, the state Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Dr Law Mefor, said the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo had so far cleared about ₦22 billion in inherited gratuity arrears owed to retired state and local government employees and teachers.

Reacting to the development, Olayinka, in a post on X, said the evidence released by the Soludo administration supported the governor’s earlier claim that Anambra State was still servicing loans associated with the Obi administration.

“The Government of Anambra State under the leadership of Professor Charles Soludo has released evidence to support the earlier statement made by the Governor that the state is still paying part of loans procured by the administration of Peter Obi,” Olayinka wrote.

He then challenged the former Anambra governor to honour his earlier pledge.

“ME: Now that evidence has been provided, will Peter Obi be a man of his words for once and stop campaigning as he promised?” he added.

The development has further intensified the public debate over the financial records of Obi’s administration and the competing claims surrounding Anambra State’s outstanding liabilities.