The Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has come under severe public backlash following the state government’s release of documents detailing N127 billion in alleged legacy debts and liabilities incurred during the administration of former Governor Peter Obi.

The controversy erupted on Wednesday after the Anambra State government, via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, published what it termed the official public debt records of the Obi administration. According to a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Dr. Law Mefor, the N127 billion figure comprises outstanding loans, salary arrears, and pension and gratuity liabilities inherited by subsequent governments.

Dr. Mefor further stated that the Soludo administration has so far cleared approximately N22 billion in inherited gratuity arrears owed to retired state and local government employees, as well as teachers.

However, the disclosure has sparked a fierce social media storm, with critics accusing Governor Soludo of playing "bitter politics" and using state machinery to wage a smear campaign against his predecessor. Many commentators pointed out inconsistencies in the figures initially circulated, while others argued that the administration was weaponizing propaganda to curry favor with the federal government at the expense of governance.

A cross-section of citizens has reacted sharply to the Anambra State Government`s latest allegations against former Governor Peter Obi, with critics and netizens taking to social media to denounce the move. Many commentators alleged that the current governor’s actions are driven entirely by political rivalry. Some argued that the administration has completely abandoned its promised "Dubai-Taiwan" developmental blueprint for the state to focus instead on executing a targeted blackmail campaign against political opponents.

Economic analysts and critics also heavily questioned the context of the government`s financial disclosures. They demanded that the state administration provide the specific exchange rate context from Obi’s tenure, pointing out that comparing past figures directly to 2026 economic realities without proper indexing is highly misleading. Observers emphasized that failing to account for years of inflation and currency fluctuations distorts the truth and invalidates the government`s comparisons.

Further damaging the credibility of the state`s claims, online observers flagged significant inconsistencies in the government’s initial social media rollouts. Discrepancies between the words "billions" and "millions" in early posts led many to label the disclosure as a rushed, unverified hit piece. These shifting numbers have intensified public skepticism, leaving many to believe the allegations were published prematurely without rigorous verification.

While a few commentators argued that the revelation should prompt an investigation into past finances, the overwhelming wave of public opinion has labeled the move an unnecessary distraction from the current economic challenges facing the state.