Peter Obi, former Anambra State governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has denied authoring a viral letter purportedly addressed to Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, over the controversy surrounding the state’s financial records.
Gatekeepers News reports that the letter, titled “The Future of Ndigbo is Bleak,” and dated September 19, 2026, circulated on social media amid the renewed disagreement between Obi and the administration of Chukwuma Soludo over Anambra’s finances.
However, Obi, in a statement posted on X on Saturday, described the document as false and said the signature attached to it was not his.
“This document is entirely false, malicious, and a fabrication by mischievous elements aimed at misleading the public.”
Obi added that the signature on the letter was also forged.
“The signature appended to the letter is completely forged.”
He urged members of the public and the media to disregard the document, while stating that his attention remained focused on broader national issues.
“I urge the public and media to disregard this spurious publication. My focus remains steadfastly on issues of national development, accountability, and building a better future for our people – never on cheap fabrications.”
The purported letter had called for the issues surrounding Obi’s financial records as governor to be addressed through facts and accountability rather than political exchanges.
It also appealed to traditional rulers, political leaders and elders to ensure that disagreements did not overshadow the interests of the people of the South-East.
“I therefore appeal, with humility, to our traditional institutions, political leaders and elders to encourage an environment where facts are respected, accountability is welcomed and personal disagreements do not become greater than the interests of our people,” the letter stated.
The controversy comes amid renewed debate over Obi’s administration, which governed Anambra from 2006 to 2014, and financial liabilities inherited by subsequent administrations.
Obi has previously maintained that he did not leave Anambra indebted and said his administration left money in the state’s coffers. The Soludo administration has, however, challenged aspects of his claims concerning the state’s finances.
The Obi-Kwankwaso movement had earlier described the viral document as AI-generated, further distancing Obi from the letter.
