Feature/OPED
Okowa’s Leadership Image and His 2,044 Days in Office
By Jerome-Mario Utomi
For decades, no one says a report, around the world, talked that much about the importance of a president’s first 100 days—until Franklin D. Roosevelt of the United States took office in 1933.
He took swift action to calm the nation’s crippling financial panic (cue the Emergency Banking Act and the “fireside chats” that became Roosevelt’s signature) and began rolling out the programs that made up his New Deal, including 15 major pieces of legislation in the first 100 days.
FDR’s extraordinary productivity translated into enormous popularity, and he set a first 100-day standard against which all future the US presidents would (perhaps unfairly) be measured.
But today, such practice has since become native among leaders across the world with Nigeria not an exception.
Given the above clarification, coupled with the fact that we are witnessing intense social, political and economic ‘revolution’ in Nigeria in which there is no time for leisurely discussion or anaemic expressions, the question may be asked why this piece focuses on Dr (Senator) Ifeanyi Ekwueme Arthur Okowa, who assumed the governorship position of Delta State on the 29th May 2015, when he has celebrated 100 days in office a while ago?
Why subjecting to scrutiny his goodwill, valuable qualities cultivated and implemented by his skilful use of power whereas he only on Friday, January 1, 2021, clocked 2,044 days? And when there is no concrete evidence that his promise to serve the public and to pursue the ‘public good’ has been soiled by private ambitions and the administration still has about 2 years in office?
Indeed, similar to complex but conventional business environments, leaders are encouraged to develop their peculiar identities. It has also been reasonably argued that a leader’s image is an almagarm of a variety of factors, and followers must at intervals evaluate these perceived factors in order to dictate if they are in positive or negative lights.
Particularly, an image is capable of saying much more about a leader than any of his long speeches and verbal declarations; and very unique is that once established, the image becomes not just the leader’s picture but remains highly durable.
In line with the above argument, it may again elicit the poser; what image has Governor Okowa’s led administration carved for itself since May 29, 2015, when it was inaugurated? Within this period under review, could the image be described as positive or negative? Finding answers to these questions is the objective of this piece.
Beginning with the positive actions so far taken in the last 2,044 days, it will not be characterized as out of place to, on the one hand, describe the Governors performance as historic. The facts are there and speak for it. Certainly, in the estimation of this piece, the administration has scored some good points in certain areas of life-infrastructure, security and sports development.
Analysts believe that right from May 29, 1999, when democracy re-emerged in the state, Okowa has constructed more roads in the state than his predecessors put together, trained more youths in the state in different skills, paid civil servants salaries and pensions as promptly, recently inaugurated “Operation Delta Hawk”, a new security outfit floated by the state government to enhance the security of lives and property, can fittingly be described as welcoming. And most importantly taken development to the ones abandoned coastal dwellers in the state.
Okowa says a commentator is God sent. For a very long time, all we have heard from past leaders is that the coastal region is marshy and road construction will be difficult if not impossible.
But Okowa’s administration has since sent that arguments/logic to the dustbin of history as the coastal region is now blessed with an appreciable level of good internal road networks’.
However, even as these achievements are spotlighted and celebrated, it is important to underline that deafening complaint, disappointments, frustration fuelled by economic plights and uneven spread of projects in the state daily resonate from some Deltans. They are particularly not happy that in the then Mid-West and Bendel state of old, there existed government-owned companies of which Governor Okowa witnessed, established by ex-leaders These corporations, they argued, were established to among other aims create employment while bringing revenue to government coffers.
Examples of such companies include but not limited to; MidWest Lines, Bendel Hotel, Bendel Insurance, Bendel Glass among others.
What stopped the governor from resuscitating some of these organizations the state inherited from the old Bendel state considering the volume of money the state has received as federal allocation in the last five years or establish new ones under public-private partnership (PPP) to tackle youth unemployment and generate income for the state? What is the wisdom behind teaching a man to fish (referring to the state’s youths skill training programmes) in an environment where there is no river to fish? Or train a man without a job creation plan?
How will Okowa’s administration explain the fact that his skill acquisition initiative which was programmed to empower the youths of the state via employment has finally left the large army of Deltans without a job? They queried.
Without doubt, it is obvious that the future of the state is full of promises as it is fraught with uncertainty. And the keys to victory lay in allowing actions to be guided by reason and reality, re-investment in education, infrastructural development particularly in the coastal areas of the state, employment generation and injection of young Deltans who have integrity, intellect, energy and drive into your administration as the success of any group or nation depends on the quality of people in charge.
Apart from creating jobs for the youths in the state, finishing with strong/positive image will require the realization that with sound educational institutions and infrastructure, a state is as good as made, as the institutions will turn out all rounded manpower to continue with the development of the state-driven by well-thought ideas, policies projects and programmes.
In the same vein, the rededication of energy to the plight of Deltans living in the coastal part of the state and tackling other youths’ challenges such as unemployment should be the best way to start.
Jerome-Mario Utomi is the Programme Coordinator (Media and Public Policy), Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), A Lagos-based non-governmental Organisation. He could be reached via; [email protected]/08032725374.
By Luke Kyohere
The global payments landscape is undergoing a rapid transformation. New technologies coupled with the rising demand for seamless, secure, and efficient transactions has spurred on an exciting new era of innovation and growth. With 2025 fast approaching, here are important trends that will shape the future of payments:
1. The rise of real-time payments
Until recently, real-time payments have been used in Africa for cross-border mobile money payments, but less so for traditional payments. We are seeing companies like Mastercard investing in this area, as well as central banks in Africa putting focus on this.
2. Cashless payments will increase
In 2025, we will see the continued acceleration of cashless payments across Africa. B2B payments in particular will also increase. Digital payments began between individuals but are now becoming commonplace for larger corporate transactions.
3. Digital currency will hit mainstream
In the cryptocurrency space, we will see an increase in the use of stablecoins like United States Digital Currency (USDC) and Tether (USDT) which are linked to US dollars. These will come to replace traditional cryptocurrencies as their price point is more stable. This year, many countries will begin preparing for Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), government-backed digital currencies which use blockchain.
The increased uptake of digital currencies reflects the maturity of distributed ledger technology and improved API availability.
4. Increased government oversight
As adoption of digital currencies will increase, governments will also put more focus into monitoring these flows. In particular, this will centre on companies and banks rather than individuals. The goal of this will be to control and occasionally curb runaway foreign exchange (FX) rates.
5. Business leaders buy into AI technology
In 2025, we will see many business leaders buying into AI through respected providers relying on well-researched platforms and huge data sets. Most companies don’t have the budget to invest in their own research and development in AI, so many are now opting to ‘buy’ into the technology rather than ‘build’ it themselves. Moreover, many businesses are concerned about the risks associated with data ownership and accuracy so buying software is another way to avoid this risk.
6. Continued AI Adoption in Payments
In payments, the proliferation of AI will continue to improve user experience and increase security. To detect fraud, AI is used to track patterns and payment flows in real-time. If unusual activity is detected, the technology can be used to flag or even block payments which may be fraudulent.
When it comes to user experience, we will also see AI being used to improve the interface design of payment platforms. The technology will also increasingly be used for translation for international payment platforms.
7. Rise of Super Apps
To get more from their platforms, mobile network operators are building comprehensive service platforms, integrating multiple payment experiences into a single app. This reflects the shift of many users moving from text-based services to mobile apps. Rather than offering a single service, super apps are packing many other services into a single app. For example, apps which may have previously been used primarily for lending, now have options for saving and paying bills.
8. Business strategy shift
Recent major technological changes will force business leaders to focus on much shorter prediction and reaction cycles. Because the rate of change has been unprecedented in the past year, this will force decision-makers to adapt quickly, be decisive and nimble.
As the payments space evolves, businesses, banks, and governments must continually embrace innovation, collaboration, and prioritise customer needs. These efforts build a more inclusive, secure, and efficient payment system that supports local to global economic growth – enabling true financial inclusion across borders.
Luke Kyohere is the Group Chief Product and Innovation Officer at Onafriq
In a heartfelt statement released today, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has extended its warmest congratulations to Ghana’s President-Elect, emphasizing the importance of learning from Ghana’s recent electoral success as Nigeria gears up for its 2027 general elections.
In a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade James Ezema, the CNPP highlighted the need for Nigeria to reclaim its status as a leader in democratic governance in Africa.
“The recent victory of Ghana’s President-Elect is a testament to the maturity and resilience of Ghana’s democracy,” the CNPP stated. “As we celebrate this achievement, we must reflect on the lessons that Nigeria can learn from our West African neighbour.”
The CNPP’s message underscored the significance of free, fair, and credible elections, a standard that Ghana has set and one that Nigeria has previously achieved under former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. “It is high time for Nigeria to reclaim its position as a beacon of democracy in Africa,” the CNPP asserted, calling for a renewed commitment to the electoral process.
Central to CNPP’s message is the insistence that “the will of the people must be supreme in Nigeria’s electoral processes.” The umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations in Nigeria CNPP emphasized the necessity of an electoral system that genuinely reflects the wishes of the Nigerian populace. “We must strive to create an environment where elections are free from manipulation, violence, and intimidation,” the CNPP urged, calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take decisive action to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
The CNPP also expressed concern over premature declarations regarding the 2027 elections, stating, “It is disheartening to note that some individuals are already announcing that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock in 2027. This kind of statement not only undermines the democratic principles that our nation holds dear but also distracts from the pressing need for the current administration to earn the trust of the electorate.”
The CNPP viewed the upcoming elections as a pivotal moment for Nigeria. “The 2027 general elections present a unique opportunity for Nigeria to reclaim its position as a leader in democratic governance in Africa,” it remarked. The body called on all stakeholders — including the executive, legislature, judiciary, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and civil society organisations — to collaborate in ensuring that elections are transparent, credible, and reflective of the will of the Nigerian people.
As the most populous African country prepares for the 2027 elections, the CNPP urged all Nigerians to remain vigilant and committed to democratic principles. “We must work together to ensure that our elections are free from violence, intimidation, and manipulation,” the statement stated, reaffirming the CNPP’s commitment to promoting a peaceful and credible electoral process.
In conclusion, the CNPP congratulated the President-Elect of Ghana and the Ghanaian people on their remarkable achievements.
“We look forward to learning from their experience and working together to strengthen democracy in our region,” the CNPP concluded.
By Kenechukwu Aguolu
The proposed tax reform, involving four tax bills introduced by the Federal Government, has received significant criticism. Notably, it was rejected by the Governors’ Forum but was still forwarded to the National Assembly. Unlike the various bold economic decisions made by this government, concessions will likely need to be made on these tax reforms, which involve legislative amendments and therefore cannot be imposed by the executive. This article highlights the purposes of taxation, the qualities of a good tax system, and some of the implications of the proposed tax reforms.
One of the major purposes of taxation is to generate revenue for the government to finance its activities. A good tax system should raise sufficient revenue for the government to fund its operations, and support economic and infrastructural development. For any country to achieve meaningful progress, its tax-to-GDP ratio should be at least 15%. Currently, Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio is less than 11%. The proposed tax reforms aim to increase this ratio to 18% within the next three years.
A good tax system should also promote income redistribution and equality by implementing progressive tax policies. In line with this, the proposed tax reforms favour low-income earners. For example, individuals earning less than one million naira annually are exempted from personal income tax. Additionally, essential goods and services such as food, accommodation, and transportation, which constitute a significant portion of household consumption for low- and middle-income groups, are to be exempted from VAT.
In addition to equality, a good tax system should ensure equity and fairness, a key area of contention surrounding the proposed reforms. If implemented, the amendments to the Value Added Tax could lead to a significant reduction in the federal allocation for some states; impairing their ability to finance government operations and development projects. The VAT amendments should be holistically revisited to promote fairness and national unity.
The establishment of a single agency to collect government taxes, the Nigeria Revenue Service, could reduce loopholes that have previously resulted in revenue losses, provided proper controls are put in place. It is logically easier to monitor revenue collection by one agency than by multiple agencies. However, this is not a magical solution. With automation, revenue collection can be seamless whether it is managed by one agency or several, as long as monitoring and accountability measures are implemented effectively.
The proposed tax reforms by the Federal Government are well-intentioned. However, all concerns raised by Nigerians should be looked into, and concessions should be made where necessary. Policies are more effective when they are adapted to suit the unique characteristics of a nation, rather than adopted wholesale. A good tax system should aim to raise sufficient revenue, ensure equitable income distribution, and promote equality, equity, and fairness.
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