Official Anambra State Published Document Confirms No Viable Business Has Come to Anambra Since Peter Obi Left Office

 

A government-issued document meant to counter Peter Obi’s economic claims has unexpectedly reignited public admiration for the former Anambra governor while casting a shadow on his successors, Willie Obiano and Charles Soludo. The document, released by the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AiRS), has not only failed to disprove Obi’s assertions but has also fueled renewed criticism of governance in the state since his departure in 2014.

Dr. Greg Ezeilo, Chairman of AiRS, signed off on the report which was intended to refute Obi’s recent statement that SABMiller, now a part of International Breweries, remained Anambra’s top manufacturing tax contributor. Instead of undermining Obi’s legacy, the document appears to have validated his point. SABMiller, according to the AiRS data, was indeed the only manufacturing company listed among the state’s top six tax contributors between 2021 and 2023. All the other top contributors were financial institutions.

This revelation has stirred debate across various online platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), where users are now revisiting Peter Obi’s economic track record with a renewed sense of appreciation. A widely shared post by X user Akwa Ibom 1st Son (@Civilianmajor) brought the issue into sharper focus. He pointed out that, more than a decade after Obi left office, no administration has been able to attract a business of comparable value to SABMiller.

“12 years after Peter Obi left office, Soludo and Obiano have not been able to attract any business more viable than the one Peter Obi attracted. What a life,” he tweeted, sparking waves of commentary.

Rather than quieting critics, the AiRS document has opened a broader conversation about the economic direction Anambra has taken over the years. Under Peter Obi, the emphasis on production and industrial investment was a cornerstone of the state’s development agenda. His administration was credited with attracting major investments, particularly in manufacturing, which were intended to stimulate job creation and drive long-term growth.

Observers argue that the successive administrations have largely veered from that path. Critics say Willie Obiano’s eight-year tenure focused more on financial infrastructure than industrialization. Despite initiatives in other sectors, no major manufacturing investment is widely recognized as having rivaled the scale or impact of SABMiller. The same criticism is now being leveled at Governor Soludo, who has been in office since 2022 and is seen by some as continuing that trend.

The Soludo government has yet to issue a response to the wave of online backlash, which has only grown since the document’s release. Analysts believe the silence could be strategic, although others interpret it as an indication that the administration did not anticipate the document’s unintended consequences.

What was meant to serve as a public relations counterpunch has instead elevated Peter Obi’s status in the eyes of many citizens, particularly younger voters and politically engaged netizens. Many believe the data proves that the production-based economy Obi aimed to build was not just political rhetoric but had measurable outcomes that are still evident in the state’s tax records years after he left office.

Further complicating matters is the perception that the AiRS report was released with the intention of discrediting Obi ahead of potential political developments on the national stage. If that was the aim, it appears to have backfired dramatically. Instead of diminishing his credibility, the document is now being used by supporters to bolster Obi’s image as a governor who focused on real, sustainable economic development.

Political commentators suggest that the renewed interest in Obi’s economic legacy may lead to closer scrutiny of policies implemented under Obiano and Soludo. There are growing calls for both administrations to provide clear, verifiable records of major investments brought into the state and their economic impact.

The controversy surrounding the AiRS document also reflects broader national discussions on the need for production-driven economic models. As states struggle with dwindling revenues and rising unemployment, many are looking back at models that emphasized manufacturing and value-added industries as a more viable path to sustainable growth.

What was supposed to be a routine clarification from a state agency has now become a rallying point for conversations about leadership, economic planning, and legacy. For many in Anambra, the message is clear: facts, not press statements, will define how history judges their leaders.