Peter Obi, a presidential candidate in 2023 and former governor of Anambra State, has stated that no one can challenge his honesty in managing public funds/offices since he tried his best and the records indicate it.
Obi said in a statement released on Friday that quitting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not jeopardize his integrity or bring him into discredit in any way.
According to Anaedoonline.ng, Obi made the statement in reaction to Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, who said in a TV interview earlier on Thursday that Obi’s choice to leave the PDP only days before the presidential primaries demonstrates a lack of character and integrity.
In response to Wike’s comments, Obi stated in an appearance on Channels Television Politics Today on Friday that his single transgression while in administration was refusing to mismanage public finances, and that no one can accuse him of lacking integrity because of it.
Even when he was offered’sweet deals’ while in power, Obi said he turned them down and instead to live within his means.
He claims that the politics of money sharing have never been a part of his life.
“Wike talks about the issue of integrity. He said my leaving the PDP questioned my integrity, I don’t know how that came about. When we talk about integrity, we talk about it in the management of public assets.
“That is what we should be talking about in this country and when such things are mentioned about me, I feel maybe there is something missing somehow. Go and check my record as a governor, I was impeached for three reasons, one, my office had an approved budget for renovation for N298m and I renovated everything with N43,2m.
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“My lodge, to renovate where I live, I got a budget of N486m, I did everything with N81m. Number three is that I was saving money without the approval of the House. From day one I said we must save money, for 8 years I was governor, go and ask any contractor that sat with me whether I inflated any contract,” Obi declared.
He added that the evidence of his integrity and character in managing public funds is the N75 billion he left behind when he left office after eight years as Governor.
“When I left office, I left N75bn as at that time because it is public money and I am managing it on public trust. For me when you talk about integrity, it questions your management of public funds and resources.
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“Go to Anambra State today, I have no land given to me by the Anambra State Government, My managing director of my housing authority, Mike Nwafor, is still alive, he gave me land and two houses and I rejected them. Nobody has ever seen me in my political life sharing money at any time. I am not saying I am a saint, but I did things which I believe were right,” Obi added.
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