FACT CHECK: Former Edo State Governor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, recently claimed that Peter Obi could not control the Bakassi Boys and that Anambra became safer only after Governor Willie Obiano took over.
But what do the records show?
First, the Bakassi Boys did not originate under Peter Obi. The Bakassi Boys emerged around 1999–2000 and became prominent during earlier administrations in the South-East, years before Peter Obi became Governor of Anambra in 2006. Historical records show that the group was already active long before Obi entered office.
Second, the claim that Anambra was unsafe under Peter Obi contradicts official statements made by the Nigeria Police Force at the time. In April 2014, then Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar publicly declared that Anambra had remained the safest state in Nigeria during the previous five years. He specifically noted that there had been no bank robbery in the state during that period and praised the cooperation between Peter Obi's administration and security agencies.
Third, even Governor Willie Obiano, who succeeded Peter Obi in 2014, inherited a state that security agencies had already ranked among the safest in the country. While Obiano later restructured and formalized the vigilante architecture into the Anambra Vigilante Group (AVG), the security foundation did not start with him.
Beyond security, Peter Obi's administration was widely recognized for prudent financial management, educational investments, healthcare improvements, and infrastructure planning. He was named Nigeria's Most Prudent Governor by ThisDay and received recognition from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for performance in healthcare and immunization.
This does not mean Peter Obi was a perfect governor. No governor is. But if we are going to debate his record, let us do so with facts, not political talking points.