Rivers Budget: Tinubu On Wrong Side Of History — Epelle

The Chief Executive Officer of TAF Africa, Jake Epelle, has faulted the presentation of the 2025 budget of Rivers State to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu, saying that the President has etched himself on the wrong side of history.

Epelle, who spoke on Channels Television’s breakfast show, The Morning Brief, on Friday, said Tinubu’s action marked the first time in Nigeria’s democratic history that a sitting President presented a state budget, a move he said was worrisome.

He said, “The President has made history, but this time on the wrong side of history.

“This unprecedented move is very worrisome because this is the first time a sitting President is presenting the budget of a state because of the void in the democratic structure of that state created by this emergency rule.”

He stressed that such action was “executive overreach,” arguing that there was no legal or democratic justification for it.

Epelle revealed that there was initially an attempt to get the sole administrator to present the budget, but public scrutiny over its legality forced a change of strategy.

“Initially, they were going to push the so-called sole administrator to do this, and I think they realised when we called on them to examine the legality of a non-elected individual overseeing an elected office which is the institution of the state,” he explained.

Epelle questioned the integrity of any process that allows an unelected figure to administer a state’s resources.

“Anybody who wants to believe that it’s justified has a lot to tell us about the principles of democracy and making sure an elected individual would administer a state that elected him,” he said.

He also said that Tinubu’s action, though historic, undermined democratic principles.

“Like I said, the President has made history, but I think he is on the wrong side of history by presenting this budget,” Epelle said.

“Who is going to administer this? An individual not elected by the people is going to spend the people’s taxpayers’ money. This is where we are, and it’s a pity the good people of Rivers State are bearing it,” he lamented.

Rivers ₦1.481tn Budget

President Tinubu officially submitted the 2025 Appropriation Bill for Rivers State to the National Assembly for consideration on Thursday, following the suspension of the state’s House of Assembly.

In a letter addressed to the Senate President, Senator Goodwill Akpabio, the ₦1.481 trillion proposed budget has major allocations aimed at revitalising key sectors.

The budget, according to the proposal, focuses on strategic investment in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and agriculture, with the aim of generating approximately 6,000 new jobs.

In a formal communication to the National Assembly, President Tinubu asked the Senate for an expeditious consideration.

The Senate referred the bill to its Ad-hoc Committee on Emergency Rule, with instructions to review the proposal and report back to the chamber as soon as possible.

Tinubu also wrote to the House Representatives for the Rivers State budget approval, reminding the House that the Supreme Court had nullified the 2025 budget presented by suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The President declared a state of emergency in the state on March 18, 2025, after months of political conflict between Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly members who are loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The President suspended Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu; and all the members of the House of Assembly for six months.

He also nominated Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) as an administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state for the first six months.

While hinging his decision on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, Tinubu said he could not continue to watch the political situation in the state escalate without taking any action.

His action was received with mixed reactions, including protests and counter-protests.