Anambra finances in bad shape, Soludo bewails, says Obiano left N109b debt behind – Nexus News
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, yesterday, faced the reality of governance, as he revealed the state’s huge debt under the immediate past administration, portraying its finances as ‘being in bad shape.’
On assumption of office, he had allegedly bewailed that Anambra was a failed state under Obiano’s first term and prior to his picking the governorship ticket had questioned: “If Anambra is not broken, why mend it.”
Soludo, who disclosed this in a television interview monitored by Newsmen, yesterday, stated that his predecessor left a huge debt profile estimating to about N109 billion and cash of between N300 million and N400 million.
His words: “In terms of the debts I inherited, it runs into billions of Naira. In that of cash, we met about N300 million.
“In fact, let’s not talk about it. Our treasury is funny. But I hope we shall make money henceforth to help us fulfill our promises for infrastructure and development of the state. But in terms of what I saw in our coffers, my brother, it’s pathetic.”
He said the bad financial status of the state was found in the Audit Report of December 31 2021, published by the outgone administration of Obiano,
Continuing, Soludo noted that Anambra is confronted with a debt profile of about N109 billion and about N400 million cash in the banks.
He also said that the debts do not include those emanating from matured certificates of completion owed contractors and what might have changed between December 31, 2021 and March 17, 2022, when he took over.
Soludo reiterated that his predecessor left between N300 and N400 million in the state coffers, noting: “The state finance is in bad shape and in dire need of restoration.”
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The governor’s revelation may likely worsen Obiano’s situation at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) custody in Abuja where, despite a bail offer, the ex governor is yet to meet the conditions at press time.
Recall that EFCC had placed stringent conditions including acquiescence to grant the former governor bail should the two Federal Ministry Directors, who must own confirmed landed property in Abuja and an undertaking by a Senator from the state fail.
A source told Journalists that those, who were approached to stand for the ex-governor were unwilling to help, while the three Senators from the state have all shoved entreaties to them, quoting alleged abuses and distasteful manner of Obiano’s wife.
The former governor was arraigned in Lagos airport where he was billed to travel to the United States of America some hours after handover to Soludo.
He was flown to Abuja and detained in EFCC detention facility and stayed five days before he was granted bail. However, he was yet to fulfill his bail conditions as at the time of filing this report.
