Who is after Edo State Governor? 

When the whispers of a secret wedding floated through the air, many shrugged it off as another tall tale. But when the bride’s family handed out invitations without naming the groom, curiosity turned into certainty. “Something fishy is going on,” said the streetwise observer. In Nigeria, where gossip travels faster than light, people are convinced Senator Monday Okpebholo, the governor of Edo State, is the mystery man.

The governor’s camp has worked overtime to dismiss the rumours, but the streets aren’t buying it. After all, this is the same man who struggled with budget figures. So, as some have uncharitably pointed out, it was the numbers that first confused him; now, love seems to have done the same.

Social media, the great amplifier of scandals, has had a field day. Memes of the governor fumbling budget numbers now share space with wedding speculations. “Na who send am?” quipped one commentator. The jilted guests, left counting their travel losses, are not amused, but for the rest of us, it’s premium entertainment.

Old proverbs warn against running when no one is chasing. It seems that certain people are working overtime to cast Okpebholo in the role of a rabbit sprinting frantically in the afternoon. Sources claim he barely knew the bride-to-be, while others insist that he simply lost his nerve. Either way, the hasty retreat has left an expensive trail of abandoned flights, cancelled hotel bookings, and unclaimed aso-ebi.

Yet, through it all, the governor remains steadfast—at least in his denials. His media team insists he’s not the hidden groom, but in a country where denials are often confirmations in disguise, people remain sceptical. The streets have made up their minds, and their verdict is clear: “There’s fire under this smoke.”

But then again, all things considered, perhaps it’s all for the best. Politics is tough enough without adding wedding drama to the mix. For now, the governor can focus on roads, schools, and security—assuming, of course, those after him leave him some breathing space and wedding bells don’t come ringing anytime soon.