FACT CHECK: Did Peter run away from erosion in Anambra as a governor?

A video clip of President Bola Tinubu is circulating on social media platforms. The president claimed that the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, ran away from Anambra State because of erosion when he was the governor of the state.

Tinubu commented on one of his presidential campaign stops in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The president asked rhetorically:

“When they compare the brain of this man – referring to himself – to that of Obi. He ran away from erosion in Anambra. He ran away! And he now wants to be president? President of where? Lili-kabu?”

While praising himself for his effort at confronting the Atlantic Ocean as Lagos State governor, Tinubu said:

“In Anambra State, he could not confront erosion. I, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, confronted the Atlantic Ocean. I claim it for you.”

Did Peter Obi run away from erosion in Anambra?

We fact-checked the president and found the claim to be untrue. It is on record that Obi was one of the strongest supporters and financiers of Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), which was formed in 2010 with backing from the World Bank.

Similarly, on September 4, 2014, former Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, John Ogar Odey, stated that the former Anambra governor played a prominent role in the creation of NEWMAP.

NEWMAP was a project established to address severe gully erosion, land degradation and related environmental challenges across Nigeria, facing states such as Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi, Edo, Cross River, Imo and Enugu.

Similarly, during the official launch of the project in Abuja, World Bank Country Director Marie Francois Marie-Nelly specifically paid tribute to Peter Obi for committing N500,000,000 as Anambra’s counterpart funds for the project.

“I have visited Edo and Anambra states. Under Peter Obi, I was pleased with his commitment, which he demonstrated by being the first to pay the state’s counterpart funds of N500 million for the project Marie-Nelly said in a report by The Nation.

As such, Peter Obi didn’t run away from erosion during his tenure as Anambra governor; rather, he committed funds to reducing the effects of gully erosion across the state.

Obi was a two-term governor in Anambra till March 17, 2014, while John Odey was Minister of Environment between December 17, 2008, and May 29, 2011.

Is Tinubu’s claim about Obi correct?

The claim by President Tinubu was not correct. It was an exaggeration. However, it may be one of those political jabs politicians throw at one another during electioneering campaigns.