Like everyone else, I’m deeply concerned about the governorship candidate of the APC in the forthcoming Edo State Election, Senator Monday Okpebholo. A cursory examination of his public utterances and demeanor reveals a startling inadequacy, rendering him patently unsuitable for the exalted office of the number one citizen of the state.
Firstly, his recent gaffe, where he promised to provide Edo people with “insecurity” instead of “security,” is a telling manifestation of his cognitive limitations. This is not merely a slip of the tongue but a window into his mental faculty, revealing a startling lack of intellectual acuity.
Besides that, his reputation as a stark illiterate precedes him, with a plethora of gaffes and verbal faux pas that would be comical if they weren’t so alarming. His inability to articulate coherent policy positions, his struggles with basic grammar and diction, and his cringe-worthy attempts at public speaking all conspire to render him a misfit for the office he seeks.
Moreover, his comportment and demeanor are redolent of a man out of his depth, lacking the gravitas, and statesmanship required of a governor. His campaign has been marked by a dearth of substance, with vacuous promises and platitudes substituting for concrete policy proposals.
Senator Monday Okpebholo’s candidacy is an affront to the very notion of leadership. His intellectual and communicative deficits, coupled with his lack of decorum and statesmanship, render him manifestly unfit to occupy the office of governor. The people of Edo State deserve better. They deserve a leader who can inspire confidence, provide vision, and demonstrate a modicum of intellectual rigor. Senator Okpebholo falls woefully short of these expectations.
Ken Modugu is a Nigerian Professor
