Call for Probe into Anambra Water Corporation Arrears Reignites Debate Over Peter Obi’s Record

 

A statement circulating on X has reignited political tensions in Anambra State, with a call for a formal investigation into the Anambra State Water Corporation over unpaid staff salaries and the fate of arrears reportedly cleared more than a decade ago.

Valentine Obienyem, in remarks shared by user @ruffydfire on Sunday, argued that former Governor Peter Obi did not pay Water Corporation staff for two reasons: the workers were unproductive, and the legal instrument establishing the corporation required it to generate its own salaries. Obienyem pointed to 2014 publications and official statements claiming the arrears had been cleared under the subsequent administration of Willie Obiano.

“I am therefore surprised that the issue of non-payment is coming up again,” Obienyem said. “At this point, I believe a panel of inquiry should be set up to establish the truth. What happened to the arrears reportedly cleared in 2014? Are we sure these people are not being used for some other purpose? The facts should be established and made public.”

The post quickly drew sharp reactions. Critics accused the current administration of Governor Charles Soludo of using the Water Corporation issue as a distraction from its own governance record. One widely engaged reply argued that Soludo inherited a state with zero debt and significant savings left by Obi, yet has borrowed heavily while failing to deliver pipe-borne water in the state capital, Awka, after three years in office. The commenter questioned why Obi’s name continues to feature in 2026 discussions when arrears were officially declared cleared in 2014 under Obiano.

Other responses focused on the principle of non-payment itself. One user asked what measures, if any, were taken at the time to improve the productivity of Water Corporation staff rather than simply withholding salaries. Another dismissed the entire discussion as a “useless distraction” from more pressing issues facing the state.

The resurfacing of the Water Corporation arrears question comes amid ongoing political rivalry in Anambra, where Obi’s tenure as governor (2006–2014) remains a frequent reference point for both supporters and critics. Supporters routinely highlight fiscal prudence and infrastructure projects from that era, while opponents and successive administrations have periodically raised questions about specific agencies and legacy liabilities.

No official response from the Anambra State Government or the Water Corporation was immediately available regarding the latest call for a panel of inquiry. The debate underscores how historical claims about public finances continue to shape contemporary political discourse in the state, particularly as questions persist over water supply, public sector productivity, and accountability for past financial decisions.