‘Go to hell’ – Edo APC Chair slams critics, defends Okpebholo after budget stutter

The Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarrett Tenebe, has come to the defense of Governor Monday Okpebholo following public criticism over his stumbling while presenting the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the State House of Assembly.

Tenebe, addressing the backlash in a video shared by Edo Updates on X.com, dismissed the criticism as baseless and described the governor’s slip-up as a natural human error.

He emphasised that such mistakes are common and should not overshadow the governor’s achievements.

“Social media is buzzing over a minor mistake during the budget presentation, where the governor struggled to articulate the figures of ‘650 billion and the rest.’ But these errors are human and happen to everyone,” Tenebe said.

The APC chairman further praised Governor Okpebholo’s honesty, contrasting him with previous administrations. “This is how you identify someone genuine and transparent. Monday is not a thief, so he’s not accustomed to dealing with figures,” Tenebe remarked.

Tenebe also urged critics to focus on the governor’s track record and performance rather than his verbal misstep. “The governor is performing and will continue to deliver. Anyone who doesn’t like his face can go to hell and burn to ashes—period,” he said.

The controversy stems from a viral video of Governor Okpebholo’s budget presentation, where he appeared flustered while attempting to state the budget’s total. In the clip, the governor repeatedly tried to articulate the amount, saying, “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.”

Despite the slip-up, Governor Okpebholo eventually presented the proposed budget, estimated at N605 billion, a 25 percent increase from the previous year. The 2025 Appropriation Bill was titled “Budget of Renewed Hope for a Rising Edo.”