365NEWS gathered that A mild drama unfolded during the presentation of Edo State’s 2025 budget as Governor Monday Okpebholo appeared to struggle while pronouncing the total budget figure of N605 billion.
On Tuesday, Governor Okpebholo presented an estimated N605 billion for the 2025 fiscal year at the Edo State House of Assembly. The budget, titled “Budget of Renewed Hope for a Rising Edo,” reflects a 25 percent increase over the 2024 budget.
While unveiling the Appropriation Bill, the governor noticeably stuttering as he tried to pronounce the N605 billion mark. Despite the hiccup, he pressed on with his presentation.
During the presentation, he listed the five points as security, infrastructural development, healthcare, food sufficiency and education.
He also added that the budget was prepared with the aim of achieving the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government.
Okpebholo said the 2025 budget estimate was 25 percent higher than the 2024 budget.
He said the sum of N223 billion, representing 37 percent, was allocated to recurrent expenditure while N381 billion, representing 63 percent, was for capital expenditure.
The governor gave the sectoral breakdown of the budget as N162 billion for road development across the state, N48 billion for education, N63.9 billion for health, N1.8 billion for the health insurance scheme and N4.5 billion for the agricultural sub-sector.
Okpebholo, who explained that the proposed Appropriation Bill was a product of wide consultations, opined that it would ensure accountability and transparency in governance for responsive service delivery to the people of Edo State.
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God will punish INEC for what they did in Edo State. 😡
How can you not read your own damn budget? How is this the best representative of the APC?
We are in court. By God’s Grace @Aighodalo will regain his mandate and save Edo citizens from this sort of international… pic.twitter.com/zt77GjpBxY
— Ose Anenih (@ose_anenih) December 10, 2024
Meanwhile, The governor’s struggle to pronounce the budget’s figures has sparked reactions mixed reactions on social media.
@bara_spacesolns on X, formerly Twitter said; “This is so embarrassing, my goodness 😳. He can’t read? And that lady that was campaigning for him all over Twitter has quietly gone back to posting daily affirmation.”
Another user @momosun04 wrote; “Could not finish watching it. God,why are you punishing us we from Edo State?”
@Egwagreat; “Ordinary to present Budget, the Edo caretaker Governor dey fumble.
“This is really disheartening. Look at the man that Inec rigged into power as Edo State Gov. This is so shameful.”
@RiverEthiope reacted; “Perhaps if you guys had raised the standards while you were there. If OBJ hadn’t made it do or die, if he hadn’t allowed Uba to kidnap a gov, or the shenanigans in Ekiti state. Perhaps we all might have been in a better place!”
@DOlumolade said; “I have never believed that proficiency in English is directly proportional to effective leadership or governance. He should focus on his work and not be sidetracked by critiques of his English. If he cannot communicate in English, he should speak in Edo language.”
@luvday4real wrote; “You said worse things against Buhari yet he completed his 8years. You are a known cry cry baby now. Keep it up!”
