Newly-inaugurated Governor of Anambra State, Prof Charles Soludo has claimed that his predecessor, Chief Wiilie Obiano left behind the sum total of N300 million in the state’s treasury for him.
Governor Soludo, while fielding questions by journalists, as guest on the Arise TV, Tuesday morning, lamented that he has also inherited ‘hundreds of billions of naira’ in debt from the immediate past administration of Obiano.
Meanwhile, Obiano is still perfecting his bail bonds at the Abuja office of the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) where he has been held since Thursday, on charges of financial impropriety and mismanagement of Anambra State’s funds.
According to Governor, he met only N300 million in the state’s treasury upon assumption of office, last Thursday.
Soludo, a former Governor of the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN), further revealed that Anambra State owes debts running into hundreds of billions of naira.
“In terms of debt I inherited, it runs into hundreds of billions of Naira. In that of cash, we met about N300 million only. In fact, let’s not talk about it. Our treasury is funny. 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 met in our coffers, my brother, it’s pathetic. Please let us not go there. God will help us.”
Obiano was apprehended by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as he tried to leave the country few hours after he handed over to Soludo.
Soludo was sworn in as governor, last Thursday, at the Government House in Awka to succeed Obiano, all of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) party, which won last November’s governorship election.