Senate President Godswill Akpabio has delivered a scathing indictment, asserting that the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, departed, leaving the nation’s economy in disarray.
Speaking during a thanksgiving service hosted by Senator Barinada Mpigi in Koroma, Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State, Akpabio didn’t mince words.
He attributed the current economic turmoil plaguing Nigeria to policies enacted by Emefiele, expressing uncertainty about the appropriate charges to bring against him.
“We did not even know what to charge him with; whether for putting foam on top of the bill, illegal firearm possession, printing notes without income. I don’t know what we are going to charge him with,” Akpabio said.
Akpabio painted a grim picture, highlighting the prevalence of hunger and economic crunch as consequences of past policies.
“But what we can say is that yes there is hunger today because of the policies and actions that they took, and we recognise that, and I think every political party should recognise that there is hunger, and we are battling to ensure that Nigerians sleep with their eyes closed,” he stated.
In an appeal for patience, Akpabio acknowledged the enormity of the task ahead, suggesting that decades of neglect couldn’t be rectified in a matter of months. He reassured Nigerians of ongoing efforts to bolster security and living standards, acknowledging the complexities involved.
“Yes, there is insecurity; we are battling to ensure that Nigerians can take three square meals a day. But be rest assured that we campaigned for this job; we campaigned around the country; we will not let you down; we will get to the bottom of it; all we need is your patience,” he emphasized.
Highlighting the entrenched nature of Nigeria’s challenges, Akpabio underscored the enduring legacy of neglect spanning nearly six decades.
“That rots that have happened in Nigeria for so many years, for almost 60 years, cannot be solved in six months,” he remarked.
Recent developments have seen Emefiele embroiled in legal troubles, with the Federal Government accusing him of financial crimes following his removal from the CBN governorship by Tinubu in June 2023.
The charges against Emefiele were revised on January 18, 2024, expanding from six counts to twenty counts, encompassing allegations of criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to conduct forgery, procurement fraud, and conspiracy to commit a felony.
