By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

A former Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, has said that he saved money for the state during his tenure as a way of planning for tomorrow and future generations. He explained that a plan-less tomorrow was a call to failure.

Obi had during the twilight of his tenure, announced that he was leaving behind a total of N75billiion for his successor, Chief Willie Obiano.

Obi’s statement is coming on the heels of Governor Chukwuma Soludo's revelation during an interview on Arise TV that his predecessor, Obiano, left a paltry N300 million in the state treasury with debts running into over N100billion.

A statement by Obi's Media aide, Valentine Obienyem, read in part: “Often, some people who are not experts in finance and statecraft question the rationale behind savings which Obi embarked on out of mischief, display of continued opposition, hatred or pure ignorance.

“I often express surprise at their viewpoints, because even among animals, we see the practice of saving for tomorrow out of today’s surplus. However, among the human family, we need not save only when there is surplus.

“If, for example, one plans to buy a car next year, would one not start saving money for that? Savings is about planning and, as Obi always said, “If you do not plan, you have planned to fail.”

“As for those in the habit of arguing against what they do not understand, I hope you will commend the debt burden that will weigh Anambra down as revealed by Prof. Charles Soludo. May I present to you the rationale behind Obi’s savings in the State as he himself had explained.

“Unfortunately, we live in a system where people do not think about tomorrow and do not plan for future generations but would prefer to obliterate accumulated income and put the state in debt before exiting office.

“These are the reasons he is qualified for leadership at any level. In fact, we need such a man for Nigeria to re-discover herself.”