Calls are being made for the immediate release of the NTA correspondent and for the people of Edo to demand better leadership, free from the embarrassment of constant blunders.
In an outrageous turn at yesterdays events, by an NTA correspondent covering the live broadcast of the budget presentation was arrested after defying a security directive to halt the stream. The incident unfolded when the Governor’s security aides, accompanied by his hype men, demanded that all media outlets shut down their coverage and surrender their cameras. But, in what can only be described as a last-ditch effort to maintain transparency, the NTA correspondent continued the live broadcast, which was later seized upon by PDP loyalists.
It was gathered that the Governor’s team, embarrassed by the broadcast, clearly failed to anticipate that the critical moments of his budget presentation—marking yet another slip-up—would air publicly, stirring chaos both in the chambers and across the state. While the correspondent has defended their actions, stating that once the broadcast went live, it couldn’t be cut off, the damage had already been done.
The missteps aired for the world to see have only reinforced the growing belief that Governor Okpebholo’s leadership is marked by constant gaffes and increasingly desperate measures to control the narrative. As more Governors across the nation express their concern over the incident, one can’t help but wonder: is this just another sign of the slippery slope that Okpebholo’s reign seems destined to continue down?
The powers that be may have hoped that arresting the journalist would quiet the noise, but with this latest debacle, his attempts at damage control are likely to cause even more backlash. One thing is certain—this is just another embarrassing chapter in a tenure plagued by poor decisions and a complete disregard for the people’s right to information.