Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, faced an awkward moment during the presentation of the state’s 2025 budget proposal.
While presenting the N605 billion appropriation bill to the State House of Assembly, Okpebholo struggled to articulate the figures, repeatedly stuttering and causing laughter and murmurs among lawmakers.
As seen in a video on social media, the governor stuttered, “The Edo State 2025 Appropriation Bill of 6 billion… 650… 605 billion… 76 thou… 76 million…
“Let me take it again. 506 billion… 605 billion… sorry… 776 billion… sorry, it’s confusing me.”
Okpebholo concluded, “605 billion and details of the budget proposed… proposal for your consideration and approval. Thank you for your kind consideration.”
The incident quickly went viral on social media, attracting mockery from Nigerians.
In response to the backlash, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Jarrett Tenebe, defended the governor, attributing the struggle with numbers to Okpebholo’s integrity and lack of involvement in corrupt practices.
Tenebe stated that the governor’s difficulty with figures is a sign of his honesty, contrasting him with others who might be more familiar with large sums because of corrupt activities.
Despite the blunder, Tenebe praised Okpebholo’s performance as governor and dismissed the criticism as baseless.
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