75 Billion Naira Cash and Investment, Obi calls for a Committee to investigate

Following the denial by Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra State after two years of handover, that he did not receive any 75 Billion Naira cash and investment from his predecessor, Mr. Peter Obi, Obi’s Media aide, Valentine Obienyem has called for a committee to investigate the matter even as he advised Anambra Government to concentrate on showing Anambra people what they have invested for them or projects executed rather than dancing around another man’s investment for the State.
In a statement to the press, Obienyem expressed shock that Anambra Government just realized after two years that what was handed over to them was not as stated.
During a press conference on Saturday, Gov. Obiano, speaking through the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Solo Chukwulobelu said he only received “9 Billion Naira cash and 26 Billion Naira ‘near cash’ from his predecessor.’ He also said he inherited over 100 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 Anambra State Government to explain what they meant by that. He asked whether by “near cash”, they mean they received an unknown money or perhaps, Biafran pounds.
Obienyem said that the issues raised by Anambra 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 they plan to massively borrow money from the banks.  I am aware that Obi left as follows:  27 Billion Naira in local currency investment; 26.5 Billion Naira in foreign currency investment; 28.1 Billion Naira in Certified State/ MDS balances.” Obienyem stated that he was aware that Mr. Obi has all the certified bank balances of Anambra State accounts in different banks as at the 17th of march, 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 documentary evidence.
On over 100 Billion Anambra State Government said they inherited from Obi, Obienyem said it was unfair for Anambra State Government 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.