The Anambra State Government has accused former Governor Peter Obi of neglecting workers of the state Water Corporation, alleging that more than 200 staff members died during his administration after being owed entitlements.

The allegation was contained in a statement by the Anambra State New Media Office, the official communication platform of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration, amid the escalating political dispute between Soludo and the former governor.

The government referred to Obi as “Anambra’s Pharaoh” and questioned his administration’s handling of the state Water Corporation.

It alleged that successive administrations before Obi did not declare the corporation inactive, but claimed Obi’s government did so while still allocating funds to the agency in its budgets.

“Ezeife, Mbadinuju, & Ngige never labeled the Corporation as dead only Peter Obi did,” the government said, questioning why funds were allocated to the corporation and subsequently given to private contractors as loans.

The latest allegation comes days after the Soludo administration released documents it described as official records of debts and liabilities allegedly inherited from Obi’s administration, including external loan obligations.

Obi has rejected the claims, maintaining that he left office without unpaid salaries, pensions, gratuities or contractor liabilities.

He has also consistently argued that his administration cleared inherited obligations and handed Anambra over in a financially stable condition.

The Soludo administration, however, has continued to challenge Obi’s record in office and is demanding explanations over the management of the Water Corporation and the funds allocated to it during his tenure.

Obi governed Anambra State from 2006 to 2014.