Nigerian singer Cobhams Asuquo has reacted to the viral video of Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, struggling to pronounce some numerical figures while presenting the 2025 budget to the State House of Assembly.

The "Budget of Renewed Hope for a Rising Edo" appropriation bill, which the governor submitted, is anticipated to be worth N605 billion, a 25% increase over the 2024 budget.

However, Okpebholo often failed to pronounce the budget's numerical value, turning what should have been a routine process into a hassle.

The governor was seen stuttering in the widely shared video. In his first attempt, he said “The Edo State 2025 Appropriation Bill of 6 billion… 650… 605 billion… 76 thou… 76 million…

Attempting it the second time, he said, “Let me take it again. 506 billion… 605 billion… sorry… 776 billion… sorry, it’s confusing me."

This stirred varied reactions among social media users, as many lambasted him. Among the individuals who reacted was singer Cobhams Asuquo, who decried the governor's actions. According to him, the people of Edo State are very brilliant so he finds it embarrassing and questionable that the governor had to do that.

He wrote, "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? 1/2.

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. 2/2"

Many people concurred with him in the comments section.

See some reactions here

cgoldconfectionery: "Make una relax...more of such show to come. This is just the beginning."

cicidammy: "But if it’s to embezzle the money, e no go hard to pronounce"

alakijayinka: "He probably hasn't come across such huge sums before to read it in words. It can happen"

queen_jay_dee: "Oshiomole really picked his puppet well."

nwamaka.ndego: "This is really embarrassing. A governor at that. When incompetent people keep ruling."

themay_jayne: "‘Is confusing me’ that statement dey mad me but if na to embezzle money them go know the right amount"

mr.1805: "And they all clapped..they Clapped!"

gabbie_classiq: "If na to tiff am now them go sabi"

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? 1/2 pic.twitter.com/qTu7sTgLmh

— The Elephant Man (@cobhamsasuquo) December 10, 2024