Pascal Oparada
Nigerians have described, as a smear campaign against former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, a report by Premium Times newspaper that the ex-governor have businesses outside the country before he became governor and did declare them in assets.
In a report on Monday titled, “Pandora Papers: Inside Peter Obi’s secret businesses — and how he broke the law,” Premium Times alleged that the former governor and business mogul “serially violated the law by failing to declare to
Code of Conduct Bureau the companies and assets he tucked away in secrecy havens.”
Mr Obi told Premium Times that he did not declare companies and the funds and property he jointly owns with his family members or anyone else in his asset declaration filings with the Code of Conduct Bureau because he was unaware that the law required him to do so.
“I don’t declare what is owned with others,” he said. “If my family owns something I won’t declare it. I didn’t declare anything I jointly owned with anyone.”
The online newspaper claimed that the project revealed Obi approached Acces International, a French company, to help him incorporate an offshore entity.
In an interview with TheNiche last week, the erstwhile governor said he can explain every wealthier owns and that he was never a pauper before he took over the reins of power in Anambra eight years ago.
“I never said I was a pauper. And people knew. I was not a pauper before I became governor. Before I became governor, I was a director in several financial institutions and some other quoted companies by virtue of my investments.
“I had thriving businesses and the businesses were not folded up because I wanted to be governor. They were there. They were all going concerns. All people need to know is that if there is anything you have seen, investigate it properly, ask valid questions and you will be provided with the right answers.”
“Rather than scandalizing someone, check the source of wealth. Then, go to where the person served and see if there was any missing link. For example, if I have an account, say, in the UK (just assuming), when I was in government, can you check whether there was any payment, credit into it within that period?
“If I have accounts in Nigeria, can you check the credits that went into it? If I had business with a group of people, can you ask them the growth of the business within that time? And if you want, you can come and ask me the source of the wealth.
“I can explain every wealth that I have and everybody knows that I am not an extravagant fellow. I am not somebody who earns money and throws it away. I am a business man. Even as we speak, I am creating wealth and the wealth is multiplying. But what you notice is that some people are looking for what to say about Peter Obi,” Obi told TheNiche.
Many Nigerians have said the report is aimed at truncating the political ambition of the governor who was a vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 elections.
“EFCC once accused Peter Obi of fraud bcus they said “they found N500m in one of Peter obi’s accounts”.Peter replied them that he actually has N6b in that account and that if they found only N500m then the bank must av stolen from him. Arrogance, I love,” @von_Bismack said on Twitter.
“iIf Muhammadu Buhari leaves for Nigeria, just half of what Peter Obi left for Anambra and pays off the debt his regime has amassed, I will join you to support him for Life Presidency.
“There is not a single record of public accusations of embezzlement or misappropriation of state funds against Peter Obi.
Tinubu has a few, the most recent being from Dapo Apara, the former MD of Alpha Beta Consulting. 7up” Demola Olarenwaju said.
“10 Nigerian politicians were named in the PANDORA PAPERS, but brown envelop Nigerian journalists were clever enough to single out Peter Obi for their AGENDA. No mention of the other 9. They tried to make Peter the scapegoat when he committed NO CRIME. But we are ready for them,” @Firstladyship said.
“Peter Obi erred in failure to declare at CCB, as a PEP, he had an obligation to do that. It is not illegal to set up Trusts and Coys in Tax Havens. It’s what a lawyer would advise managing tax obligations,” @D_ChyChy said.
@Frank Okpara said: “In all that okoto, I was waiting to read where Peter Obi stole or syphoned monies that belonged to Anambra state, sotay I read adverts
Oga, if you had carried out this your painstaking research before r 2015, Buhari wouldn’t have happened”
