Veteran Nigerian journalist, Reuben Abati, has mocked the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, over the inability to pronounce the acronym GCFR.

Edocelebrities reports that Okpebholo, in a video making the rounds online, was seen struggling to pronounce the ‘GCFR’ suffix added to President Bola Tinubu’s name.

Speaking during Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’ on Wednesday, Abati said the people of Edo State had the opportunity to choose a highly educated man but chose Okpebholo instead.

According to the former presidential aide, Governor Okpebholo failed to pronounce simple series that children are taught in school, adding that Edo people should live with their choice.

He said, “Like Yoruba people would say, it is finished. Edo people had the chance to choose a highly educated man who was very intelligent. They did not want him. But they chose Monday Okpebholo.

“Simple series that they teach children in school Okpebholo could not pronounce. GCFR becomes DSS, GSM, GSSM.” 

Meanwhile, Okpebholo has denounced the recent attack on members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Edo State, describing the incident as an internal party dispute that spiralled beyond control.

Naija News reports that former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and some chieftains of the ADC were on Tuesday allegedly attacked by suspected thugs in Edo State.

Obi’s former campaign spokesman and National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, described the attack as an “assassination attempt”.

In a statement signed by Governor Okpebholo’s chief press secretary, Patrick Akhere Ebojele, and issued on Tuesday, February 24, the governor expressed sympathy for those affected and stated that it was regrettable that individuals allegedly took advantage of Edo’s calm environment to unleash violence.

“As peace-loving people, the importation of thugs and miscreants from outside the state under the guise of party politics remains totally condemned and will not be tolerated going forward,” the governor said.

He spoke firmly about his responsibility as the state’s Chief Security Officer, insisting he would not allow Edo to slide into chaos in the name of political rivalry.