Senate President Godswill Akpabio, speaking on Sunday, criticized the economic legacy inherited by the Bola Tinubu administration from former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele, suggesting uncertainty about the charges to be brought against Emefiele.
Addressing attendees at Senator Barinada Mpigi’s Thanksgiving service in Koroma, Tai Local Government Area, Rivers State, Akpabio described the economic situation left by Emefiele as “disastrous.”
“We were perplexed about what charges to bring against him—whether for inflating bills, illegal possession of firearms, or printing currency without backing. I’m unsure what we could accuse him of,” remarked Akpabio.
The Senate President attributed current economic hardships and hunger to past policies.
“We acknowledge that hunger exists today due to the decisions and actions they took, and I think every political party should acknowledge this reality. We are striving to ensure that Nigerians can sleep peacefully,” he stated.
Akpabio reassured Nigerians of efforts to enhance security and living standards while appealing for patience, noting that decades of neglect cannot be rectified in mere months.
“Yes, there is insecurity, and we are striving to ensure Nigerians have enough to eat. Rest assured, we campaigned for this responsibility, and we will not disappoint you. Solving the deep-rooted issues in Nigeria, accumulated over nearly six decades, cannot happen overnight,” he stressed.
Emefiele faces allegations of financial misconduct from the Federal Government following his removal as CBN governor by Tinubu in June 2023. The government expanded the original six charges against Emefiele to twenty on January 18, including accusations of breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy, and procurement fraud.
Despite these challenges, the Senate President affirmed the government’s commitment to economic and national reform.
