Edo APC chair Jarret Tenebe has spoken in defence of Governor Monday Okpebholo following his difficulty reading out the amount of money stated in his 2025 budget.

Mr Okpebholo rambled for moments during a presentation at the Edo State House of Assembly on Tuesday.

While presenting the budget before the Edo House of Assembly, the governor could not pronounce some figures easily, eliciting laughter and murmurs from the lawmakers.

Mr Tenebe dismissed Mr Okpebholo’s struggle as immaterial, saying he also struggles with figures.

The APC chair attributed the governor’s confusion to being an honest politician.

“The social media has been agog with the governor’s budget presentation about mistakes on N605 billion and the rest of it all,” Mr Tenebe said.

The APC chieftain added, “It’s a normal thing. People make such mistakes. I don’t know figures… and that’s how to know original and innocent people. Monday Okpebholo is not a thief and he is not familiar with figures. Anybody who wants to talk and continue to talk is nonsense.”

Mr Tenebe further slammed Mr Okpebholo’s critics, insisting that he has come to stay as the governor of Edo State.

“He’s the governor of the state. He’s performing, and he will continue to perform,” Mr Tenebe stressed. “Anybody who does not like his face should go to hell and burn to ashes, period, and thank you.”