Okpebholo Fumbled at Budget Presentation Because He’s Not a Thief, Says APC Chairman

The chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Arrett Tenebe, has excused Governor Monday Okpebholo’s budget presentation blunder as a mark of his integrity.

Governor Okpebholo faced an awkward moment while presenting the state’s 2025 appropriation bill of N605bn to the state assembly.

The governor, who struggled to articulate the figures, repeatedly stuttered, and elicited laughter and murmurs from lawmakers.

“The Edo State Appropriation Bill of six billion… 605 billion… 76 million…” Okpebholo said before halting, as he could be seen visibly confused.

“Let me take it again. 506 billion… 605 billion… sorry… 776 billion… sorry, it’s confusing me,” he continued.

The video went viral on social media, attracting mockery from Nigerians.

Reacting, Tenebe dismissed the backlash, claiming that the governor’s struggle with numbers is proof of his honesty.

“Social media has been agog with the governor’s budget presentation about a mistake on N605 billion and the rest of it all.

“It’s a normal thing. People make such mistakes. I don’t know figures… and that’s how to know original and innocent people.

Tenebe stressed, “Monday Okpebholo is not a thief and he is not familiar with figures. Anybody who wants to talk and continue to talk is nonsense.

“He is the governor of the state, he is performing, and he’ll continue to perform. Anybody who does not like his face should go to hell and burn to ashes. Period!”

Meanwhile, the N605bn budget proposal represents a 25 per cent increase from the 2024 budget of the state.