The Chairman of the Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarrett Tenebe, has allegedly threatened one Pharez Okpere, who criticised Governor Monday Okpebholo’s budget presentation on Tuesday.
The incident followed Okpere’s comments about Governor Okpebholo’s apparent struggle to pronounce figures during the presentation of a N605 billion budget estimate to the state assembly.
In a Facebook post on Okpere’s page seen by The Bureau Newspaper, Tenebe warned him to “excuse us from Edo” or “they will be forced out.”
“Some people will have to excuse us from Edo now, and if they refuse, they will be forced out. We may start with you.”
The threats have generated reaction in the state, with many calling for Tenebe’s immediate resignation as the APC chairman in Edo State.
Critics have also urged Nigerian security agencies to investigate and take action against the threats, which they say undermine democracy and freedom of speech.
In a video obtained by The Bureau Newspaper, Tenebe defended Governor Okpebholo for confusing figures while presenting the 2025 budget, stating that the mistake occurred because the governor was not a thief.
He said, “Yes. It’s been, the social media has been agog with, the governor, our governor’s budget presentation about a mistake on 650,000,000,000 and the rest of it all. It’s a normal thing. Some have made such mistakes, and a lot of people make such mistakes. I don’t know figures.
“You see, that is how to know original and innocent people. Obaseki will not make such mistakes because he has stolen billions before. Asue Ighodalo will not make such mistake because he has stolen billions before. Monday is not a thief, so he’s not familiar with figures. So anybody who wants to talk and continue to talk is nonsense.”
“He’s the governor of the state, and he’s the governor of the state. He’s performing, and he’s performing, and he’ll continue to perform. And anybody who does not like his face should go to hell and burn to ashes, period. Thank you,” he added.
