‘I also don’t know figures,’ Edo APC Chairman defends Okpebholo

Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarret Tenebe, has defended Governor Monday Okpehbolo following widespread reactions to his difficulty in reading the figures of the state’s 2025 budget during a presentation at the Edo State House of Assembly on Tuesday, December 10.

Tenebe stated that he himself also struggles with reading figures.

A video showing Governor Okpebholo struggling to pronounce the budget figure of N605 billion quickly went viral, sparking debates across the country.

Responding to the controversy, Tenebe explained that the governor’s mistake was not unusual, recalling that former South African President Jacob Zuma had made similar errors in the past.

He attributed Okpebholo’s confusion with numbers to his innocence and lack of involvement in corrupt practices.

Tenebe stated, The social media has been agog with our governor’s budget presentation, about mistake on N650 billion and the rest of it all. It is a normal thing. Zuma made such mistakes and a lot of people make such mistakes.

“I don’t know figures. You see, that is how to know original and innocent people.

“Obaseki will not make such mistake because he has stolen billions before. Asue Ighodalo will not make such mistake because he has stolen billions before.

“Monday Okpebholo is not a thief, so he is not familiar with figures. So, anybody who wants to talk can continue to talk. It is nonsense.

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