TAF Africa CEO Faults Tinubu Over Rivers Budget Presentation, Calls it ‘Wrong Side of History’
Abuja, Nigeria – Jake Epelle, the Chief Executive Officer of TAF Africa, has strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s presentation of the 2025 Rivers State budget to the National Assembly, stating the President has placed himself “on the wrong side of history.”
Epelle made this assertion on Friday during an appearance on Channels Television’s breakfast show, “The Morning Brief.” He described the President’s action as unprecedented and deeply concerning, marking the first time in Nigeria’s democratic history that a sitting President has presented a state budget.
“The President has made history, but this time on the wrong side of history,” Epelle stated. “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 argued that President Tinubu’s action constitutes “executive overreach,” asserting there is no legal or democratic basis for it.
Epelle revealed that there was initially an attempt to have a “sole administrator” present the budget, but this plan was reportedly abandoned following public scrutiny regarding the legality of an unelected individual performing the duties of an elected institution.
“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.
Questioning the integrity of a process allowing an unelected figure to manage state finances, Epelle added, “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 reiterated his view that while the action was historic, it 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, lamenting the situation for the state’s residents.
“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 concluded.
