Nigerian singer, producer, and songwriter Cobhams Asuquo has reacted to the viral video of Gov. Monday Okpebholo of Edo State struggling to pronounce the figures for the state’s 2025 budget.
He queried why despite having some of the most brilliant minds, Nigerians are being led by people who are not the best of the lot.
While unveiling the Appropriation Bill, the governor noticeably stuttered as read out the figures. read here
“The Edo State 2025 (sic) appropriation bill of six billion (sic)… six hundred and fif…(sic) six hundred and five billion, seventy six thou… seventy-six million, seventy-six… Let me take it again,” Okpebholo said during the presentation.
“Five hundred and six billion… six hundred and five billion, sorry… seven hundred, seventy-six billion (hisses)… sorry, it is confusing me.
“Okay, six, sorry, six… six hundred and five billion… and details of the budget propose… proposal for your consideration and approval.”
Reacting, Cobhams wrote on Instagram: "To be clear, some of the most brilliant Nigerian minds I have encountered are from Edo State. So this begs the question, is it that we're not ready to tell ourselves the truth, or that we don't want progress as much as we claim to?
"Some choices may be foisted on us but is that to remain our lot? What does governance mean to us; all of us - the governed and the governor? I'm really confused this hot afternoon. This is bad. Very, very bad. There's got to be a way out."