Former Anambra State Governor and 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has written to the Obi of Onitsha, warning that the “future of Ndigbo is bleak” if political disagreements continue to divide the Southeast.
Obi made the appeal in a letter dated September 19, 2026, amid the escalating controversy over the financial records, loans and liabilities of Anambra State and the increasingly heated exchanges between his former administration and the government of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo.
The former governor called on traditional rulers, political leaders and elders across the Southeast to place the collective interests of Ndigbo above individual political differences and ensure that disputes involving public finances are resolved through facts, documentary evidence and transparency.
The intervention follows the recent release by the Anambra State Government of details of outstanding loans and liabilities allegedly connected to previous administrations, including projects executed during or inherited by Obi’s administration.
According to the state government, eight external loans associated with projects executed during Obi’s tenure or inherited by his administration had a combined outstanding balance of about $92.35 million, equivalent to approximately N127.37 billion as of June 30, 2026.
Obi has rejected the allegations, insisting that he left office without outstanding salary, pension, gratuity or contractor obligations.
He has challenged the Soludo administration to produce documentary evidence to substantiate the claims and released his handover document, which he said showed that he handed over Anambra State with a positive financial position.
In the latest letter, Obi warned that the dispute should not be allowed to degenerate into a political battle capable of creating permanent divisions among Ndigbo.
“Recent public exchanges concerning the administration of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, my former administration, and questions surrounding the financial records and liabilities of Anambra State have become matters of public discussion,” Obi wrote.
“These issues should not be settled through political exchanges, accusations or counter-accusations. They deserve facts, documents and transparency.
“Let the records be opened. Let the books be examined. Let every legitimate question be answered with evidence.”
Obi maintained that public office was a trust and that those who occupy positions of responsibility would ultimately be judged by the records they leave behind.
“I believe that public office is a trust, and history has a way of judging those who occupy positions of responsibility long after they have left them,” he said.
He added that political disagreements between individuals must not become a source of lasting division among the Igbo people.
“Whatever differences may exist between individuals today must never become wounds that divide our people or weaken our collective future,” Obi said.
The former governor said Ndigbo had for years pursued greater political relevance, economic prosperity and responsible leadership, but warned that such aspirations could not be sustained in an atmosphere of division.
“Your Majesty, Ndigbo have carried the hope of greater political relevance, economic prosperity and responsible leadership for many years,” he wrote.
“That hope cannot be sustained by division. It requires unity, credibility, accountability and the wisdom to resolve difficult matters without allowing political disagreements to become permanent divisions among our people.”
Obi also called on traditional rulers, political leaders and elders to help create an atmosphere where accountability and evidence could prevail over political disagreements.
“We must therefore be careful about the precedents we establish today,” he said.
“History may record the arguments between individuals, the accusations made and the responses given. But our children will ultimately live with the consequences of how we choose to handle these disagreements.”
The former governor stressed that Anambra State and the wider Igbo project belonged to all Ndigbo, irrespective of political affiliation, personal differences or the administration in power.
“Anambra belongs to all of us. The Igbo project belongs to all of us. And the future we leave for the next generation must be greater than the disagreements of today,” he said.
He appealed for wisdom and truth in handling the controversy, insisting that the collective interests of Ndigbo should remain above individual disagreements.
“May wisdom prevail. May truth guide our actions. And may the interests of Ndigbo remain greater than any individual disagreement,” Obi stated.
He concluded by quoting the Igbo proverb, “Otu osisi anaghị eme ọhịa,” meaning, “One tree does not make a forest.”