Akpakomiza and Other Stories

Monday Okpebholo’s public speeches have become a source of embarrassment for the Edo governor and his audiences, columnist Paul C. NwabuiKwu argues. The writer portrays Okpebholo, known as “Akpakomiza,” as visibly uncomfortable whenever he must present his government’s policies and projects.

The column uses deliberately sharp and comic language to describe the governor’s appearances, saying his facial expressions and body language suggest he is struggling through the task. It argues that social media has amplified the problem through viral videos of his verbal missteps.

One example came at a governorship campaign event in September 2024, when Okpebholo said he would “provide you (Edo residents) with insecurity.” Former Edo governor Adams Oshiomhole, who was also on the podium, intervened to correct him. NwabuiKwu treats that incident as an understandable mistake, but says later episodes were harder to dismiss.

In February, the governor reportedly struggled to pronounce GCFR, the abbreviation for Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, a title attached to President Bola Tinubu’s name in official references. The column calls the episode especially striking because the abbreviation contains only four letters.

It identifies a December 2024 presentation of Edo’s N605 billion annual budget as the defining “Akpakomiza” moment, saying Okpebholo lost his way while reading a speech prepared by an aide. The criticism is not about policy detail. It is about the repeated spectacle of a governor appearing unable to control the central public performance required by his office.

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provide you (Edo residents) with insecurity