PAUL NWABUIKWU: “His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Edo State, Mr Monday Okpebholo approaches the routine task of making public speeches with all the wariness of a hyena who stumbled into lion territory. For some reason, the remarkable fellow who revels in the nickname “Akpakomiza” finds it difficult to say something nice about his own government’s policies, programmes and projects, especially when the nice things are contained in a speech. Whenever he attempts to, his face betrays his fear and his body language suggests that he may be in the throes of premature rigor mortis as he stumbles through the forest of words. For those in the audience, watching Okpebholo perform at the podium can be excruciating. One cannot but share in his pain. You pray for him to find the strength to hurry up and conclude so that the ordeal you are sharing with him can come to end.”
