The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has again raised the benchmark interest rate by a half percentage point to 27.25 percent, marking the fifth consecutive rise despite slowing inflation.

The CBN has so far raised the monetary policy rate – a rate set by policymakers to control money supply in the economy – by a combined 850 basis points from 18.75 percent last July, reaching the highest ever recorded in the country.

The continued rise in the interest rate, though aimed to combat inflationary pressures and stabilise the economy, has far-reaching consequences on businesses with households grappling with its passthrough effect.

Babatunde Adesanya, an economist with the University of Abuja said raising the lending rates is geared towards slowing rising inflation “going by conventional belief”.

“But the challenge of inflation in Nigeria is not just a monetary problem. Other problems such as corruption and mismanagement in fiscal sector are also causing inflation in Nigeria,” he said.

Raising MPR halts soaring inflation

Africa’s biggest economy has been struggling with rising prices for the past 19 months which has led to widespread discontent before beginning to decelerate in July from almost 40 percent.

The National Bureau of Statistics report shows that Nigeria’s headline inflation eases to a six month low of 33.59 percent in August, marking the second consecutive decline in nearly two years.

But with a hike in MPR, the CBN is maintaining a stricter monetary control to rein in the stubbornly high inflation.

Marvelous Ige, a financial analyst at Lagos-based investment firm, Commercio Partners, explained that since inflation is defined as “too much money pursuing few goods”, the goal of high interest rates is to reduce the money in circulation in order to control inflation.

“The CBN raises interest rates to tackle inflation, hence lessening cost of living crisis. The approach also reduces frivolous spending and protect or restore purchasing power,” said Samson G Simon, chief economist at ARKK Economics and Data Limited.

For many analysts, the recent drop in Nigeria’s consumer prices is largely attributed to the decline in food inflation, supported by the ongoing harvest season on food supply and not by monetary tightening.

Reduction in business expansion and loss of jobs

While raising benchmark interest rates helps in slowing inflation and reigniting purchasing power, it could also hamper business growth.

Nigeria is a country where small and medium enterprises (SMEs) account for 96 percent of its business activities and provide more than 80 percent employment opportunities.

But with a tightening monetary conditions, credit will be accessed at higher rates, discouraging business expansion and fueling the already high unemployment rate.

“By hiking inflation rates, credits are discouraged since they are now more costly to obtain. However, what really happens is that certain manufacturers go on with obtaining credits/loans at high costs.

“The increased cost of borrowing will be passed down to final consumers in form of higher prices,” Ige said

“For consumers, higher costs of borrowing means reduced access to finance to fund their personal demands/projects.” the finance expert added.

According to Simon, cited earlier, the 50 basis points hike in lending rates will lead to higher cost of credit resulting in less business expansion for a country where small businesses contribute almost 50 percent to its GDP.

“It will result in contraction or slowing down economic growth and higher unemployment,” the economist added.

Echoing same sentiment, Adedotun Adesile, a US-based finance analyst said high lending rates may lead to slower economic growth as it reduces business investment and expansion.

“This will invariably lead to increased unemployment as businesses cut costs due to higher borrowing expenses,” he added.

Increased FX inflows and stable naira

A higher interest rate environment is expected to drive in dollar liquidity as investors will be in search for a market that gives higher returns on investment.

This inflows is will ensure the stability of the naira and improves consumers’ spending power.

Nigeria’s naira has suffered a 70 percent devaluation since it was allowed to trade freely and made its value to be determined by market forces last June.

The naira, though predicted to appreciate to between 1,350/1,450 per US dollar before the year runs out, is for the past weeks trading above N1,500 at the official market and N1,600 at the parallel market.

“The continuous hike in MPR should increase FX inflows from foreign investments and improve the value of the naira or at least stabilise its value,” Simon said.

He however added that with an increased monetary rate environment, cases of non-performing loans and payment defaults become higher.

High interest rates gives higher returns

In a high-interest rate environment, individuals with excess funds in savings accounts, fixed deposits, or other interest-earning financial instruments benefit from higher returns.

This means they earn more interest income on their savings, making it more attractive to save rather than spend. However, this can also mean higher borrowing costs for loans and mortgages.

Adesile explained that a high interest rates environment gives higher returns on deposits as savings accounts and fixed deposits earn more interest.

“Bonds, debentures, and other fixed-income securities become more appealing,” the financial analysts said.

“It’s not all bad news, a high interest rate environment means higher interest income for individuals with excess funds. They can fix their monies in financial instruments and earn higher interest income,” Ige, earlier cited said.

[BusinessDay]

Fresh queues have surfaced in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), leaving motorists spending hours to buy Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), aka petrol.

This followed the closure of many filling stations operated by independent marketers.

Findings by Daily Trust on Tuesday evening, showed that many filling stations in Abuja did not open, while there were long queues at the few stations that dispensed the product, particularly those operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and some major oil marketers.

Outlets such as the NNPC mega station on the Katampe axis of the Zuba-Kubwa Expressway, AP station along Aguiyi Ironsi Street in the city centre, and NIPCO filling station also along the Zuba-Kubwa expressway, among others, had massive queues.

The situation left scores of residents stranded at various bus stops.

It has also created a lucrative environment for black marketers, exploiting the situation to make exorbitant profits.

Quoting sources, PUNCH reported that members of the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) had lifted over 50 million litres of PMS from the Dangote Refinery in the past week.

Speaking during a webinar on Tuesday, Huub Stokman, Chairman of MEMAN, confirmed that major marketers have started loading the product from the refinery.

However, Stokman did not reveal whether or not the marketers were buying directly from Dangote or from the product bought by the NNPCL.

“I can tell you that we have started loading PMS from Dangote refinery. Our members have lifted millions of litres from Dangote,” he said.

[DailyTrust]

Maverick singer, Seun Kuti has revealed the role he played in the ongoing saga between controversial cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, aka Bobrisky, and popular influencer, Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan.

Recall that VDM, on Tuesday night, released a voice recording allegedly by Bobrisky claiming he bribed officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, with N15m to drop the money laundering charge against him.

In the recording, Bobrisky also claimed that he never spent a day in prison after he was convicted and sentenced to a six-month imprisonment, stressing that his godfather arranged for him to serve his term in a lodge instead of a jail.

However, Bobrisky debunked the claims on Wednesday morning, saying that the viral recording was fake because he served his term in prison.

Reacting, Seun Kuti revealed that he was the one who urged VeryDarkMan to expose Bobrisky after he informed him about the existence of the recording.

Speaking during an Instagram live session, Kuti said, “You people are late to the party, I was the first person VeryDarkMan informed about the story. I gave him the go-ahead to expose Bobrisky.”

Meanwhile, the EFCC has summoned Bobrisky and VeryDarkMan over the N15 million bribery allegation against its personnel.

The duo were invited to the EFCC’s Lagos State office to provide information and assist with the ongoing investigation.

[DailyPost]

Renowned comedian Atunyota Akpobome, aka Ali Baba, has opened up about welcoming triplets at 59. 

In a recent conversation on the Leadership Podcast, Ali Baba said he and his wife, Mary, initially planned to have one more son, driven by Mary’s desire for another child after their kids left for abroad to study.

The couple considered adoption but opted for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) instead, intending to fertilise two eggs. 

However, fate had other plans as one egg split into two, resulting in triplets.

Recounting Mary’s persuasive argument that influenced his decision, Ali Baba said: “Madam had always wanted to have a son. She had two daughters and we talked about it.

“So, I told her I didn’t want to be having school runs, joining Wizkid and attending PTA meetings. One truth is the nest becomes empty when all the children have to go abroad to study and the discussion comes up again.

“By the way, she had wanted to adopt two or three children to take care of them. One day, she then said instead of adopting, let’s just have our own. I was like, OK, but the way the economy is and she replied, ‘you said the economy is bad,’ I said yes and she said, have you stopped paying house rent for people? I said no. She asked again, “Have you stopped paying school fees?” and I said no.

“We have a foundation, the Purple Girl Foundation, taking care of over 120 people in schools from primary to university. Beyond that foundation, we have people we are paying school fees for and people we are sending to law school. So, she said all those people you are helping, do you remember the economy?

“She said if you think about it, the reason why God put you in this position might be more than taking care of yourself. So I said okay, let’s do one and she now said if we do one you know that IVFD fails so let’s do two.

“So, I said, let’s do two and then one of the eggs split into two and that was how it became three. When it became three she and the doctor knew that it had become three but they didn’t want to tell me. So they they were like sometimes when we ask God for one million, he gives you two million. When God want to bless you you don’t know how he wants to bless you, he will just do.

“So, I was like where is this going? She said the eggs split into two and I said it was two we were looking for and she said it is now three. Then we have three boys.”

The fact that the price of petrol can drop if the value of the Naira appreciates should not surprise an accountant like President Bola Tinubu.  The inverse relationship of the value of the Naira and the price of petrol happens because, petroleum, described as an “international citizen,” is largely traded with the American dollar.

You may have observed that the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited took pains to convert the price of the first consignment of petrol it bought from Dangote Refinery from Naira to the American dollar, the current store of the value of practically all currencies of the nations of the world.

The Crude Oil Refiners Association of Nigeria recognised this obvious relationship, and suggested that local refiners, like Dangote Refineries, can bring the price of petrol down to N550 if the Central Bank of Nigeria pegs the exchange rate to N1000 to the American dollar.

Therefore, the quartet of President Tinubu, Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, and Yemi Cardoso, Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, must find a way to strengthen the Naira.

Obviously, an increased inflow of the dollar, that the sale of petroleum should bring to Nigeria, will provide foreign exchange to service Nigeria’s foreign loans, as well as pay for the importation of petroleum products that fuel the transportation system and power Nigeria’s economy.

But one must admit there is a challenge to trying to strengthen the Naira, because Nigeria is essentially an import-oriented economy that has little or no control over the mechanisms used for tweaking currency exchange.

The odds are stacked against Nigeria’s quest to strengthen the Naira. But if the Naira is not strengthened, the price of petroleum products will continue to rise through the roof. And that has significant negative impact on headline inflation and purchasing power of Nigerians.

China, Japan, Russia and many of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries led by America and Britain, produce most of what they consume. Bar members, in Central and Eastern Europe, OECD countries also have the technological, financial and managerial capacity to manufacture machineries and

Of course, they import exotic foreign consumer goods too. But they have enough to spend on those luxury items, and the net effect of the volume of such imports make no significant impact on their currency’s exchange rate. They have positive net trade balance.

In fact, countries like America and China deliberately devalue their currencies, so that the excess they produce for export can be considered relatively cheap and affordable by consumers in other countries that import from them.

That is the model prescribed by Adam Smith in his seminal book, “The Wealth of Nations,” published in 1776, which, incidentally, was the same year that America’s revolutionary Declaration of Independence was written.

But one must point out that, by consigning Third World countries, like Nigeria, into the role of net exporters of primary agricultural and mineral commodities, and net importers of consumer produce, the metropolitan economies have permanently institutionalised trade imbalance against poor Third World countries.

This is how this evil plan works: By importing cheap unprocessed agricultural and mineral commodities from Third World countries, and exporting more expensive processed products to them, the metropolitan economies always have surplus from the transactions. Processed products sell higher than unprocessed primary commodities.

Nigeria earns less by sending crude petroleum to foreign refineries, and pays more for refined petroleum products. To the cost of processing in metropolitan economies that have high cost of living, you must add the accompanying landing costs –of shipment in and out of Nigeria– of the petroleum products.

These are some of the issues that Governor Cardoso of CBN must contend with, especially in a situation where, over the years, the fiscal and macroeconomic policies were either unavailable, inappropriate or ineffectual. Even now, the economic team is still grappling with deciphering the magnitude of Nigeria’s economic quagmire.

Indeed, the team is desperately trying to articulate appropriate policy solutions to combat the degradation of the economy. To borrow a phrase, from the streets, to describe the overwhelming nature of the situation, “Water don pass gari.”

The CBN must firmly resist giving Ways and Means loans to the government, and hold Minister Edun to his word that the Federal Government has “exited Ways and Means” loans template. This should appreciably help CBN’s efforts to curb headline inflation that directly affects cost of living. By the way, Nigeria Bureau of Statistics recently reported that headline inflation dropped two months in a row.

It is a good thing that the CBN is encouraging the Federal Government to repay the accumulated Ways and Means loan, even if it is in piecemeal tranches. It reduces government loan servicing encumbrances and frees government revenues for infrastructural, other developmental and social service purposes.

But the Minister of Finance must play a more strategic role in the quest to raise the value of the Naira: He should prepare an annuity plan so that a portion of government’s loan principals is paid, in piecemeal, alongside the loan servicing payments, to Nigeria’s foreign lenders especially.

He should then talk to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, one of his illustrious predecessors, to explore possibilities of approaching the foreign creditors to consider forgiving Nigeria’s debt after paying an agreed portion.

The first plan should convince the creditors that Nigeria is willing to service its debt and also end the binge. Also, they would thus be willing to forgive a portion of the loan. After all, payments made toward servicing the debts must have exceeded the loan principals.

Recently, The Punch Newspaper reported the cheery news that the World Bank acknowledges that Nigeria is prompt in servicing as many as 69 loans it had gotten from the beginning of this Fourth Republic.

Standard & Poor’s rating for Nigeria’s debt, currently a positive B- outlook, should improve. While Moody’s has rated Nigeria a Caa1, with a positive outlook, Fitch Ratings also assigned Nigeria a B rating with a stable outlook. This suggests that Nigeria is in a good stead, if the denizens of International Monopoly Capital do not throw another devilish spanner in the works.

When Nigeria has very little foreign debt portfolio, the need to scramble for the dollar, or any other convertible currency, to service its loan, is eliminated or considerably reduced. This takes away the immense pressure on the Naira and thus shore up its value.

The Minster of Petroleum Resources, who is also the President, and his Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, must initiate credible strategies to curb oil bunkering and increase Nigeria’s petroleum production to somewhere north of the promised 2 million barrels per day.

Dangote Refinery and other local refineries should be encouraged to earn more foreign exchange by selling their products across the West and Central African regions, but at the price it is sold in the country with the lowest price.

The economic management team must take unusual corrective steps to revive Nigeria’s economy. After all, he that is down needs fear no fall. The government that adopted the unusual policy of selling petroleum to (at least) domestic refineries for Naira must not hesitate to adopt other innovative policies.

France World Cup winner Raphael Varane on Tuesday announced his retirement from football at the age of 31.

Former Real Madrid and Manchester United center-back Varane had joined Italian club Como for this season but was then excluded from their Serie A squad having suffered a knee injury in August.

“A new life begins off the pitch,” Varane said on social media.

“I will remain with Como. Just without using my boots and shin pads.

“Something I am looking forward to sharing more about soon,” the four-time Champions League winner added.

AFP

A former female soldier, Private Ruth Ogunleye, has asked the Nigerian Army to publish the outcome of its investigation on alleged sexual harassment.

Ruth Ogunleye had accused a senior officer, Colonel I.B. Abdulkareem, of sexual harassment.

In January 2024, Ruth Ogunleye via her TikTok page, @Ogunleyeruthsavage1, Ogunleye alleged that Colonel I.B. Abdulkareem, Colonel G.S. Ogor, and Brigadier General I.B. Solebo had made her life unbearable.

She specifically accused Abdulkareem of making repeated attempts to assault her, administering injections against her will, forcibly removing her from her residence, and confining her to a psychiatric hospital for several months after she rejected his sexual advances.

Reacting to her claims on Tuesday, the Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, in a press conference, noted that the outcome of the investigation has invalidated Ruth Ogunleye’s claims.

Nwachukwu said that after an exhaustive review of the facts, testimonies, and evidence presented, it was determined that Abdulkareem did not commit the offences alleged by Ogunleye, noting that medical reports following an evaluation at the National Hospital in Abuja indicated that Ogunleye was suffering from a condition that rendered her medically vulnerable.

But reacting to the above claims Ogunleye via her TikTok account urged the Nigerian army to publish the outcome of the investigation.

In her words: “I want to say a big thank you to the Nigerian Army and its spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu. It is no longer news that I was discharged from the service on June 15, 2024. I humbly request that the Nigerian Army publish the outcome of the investigation that led to my discharge.

“On January 9, 2024, I came on social media to complain about how I was harassed by Colonel I.B. Abdulkareem, Colonel G.S. Ogor, and Brigadier General I.B. Solebo. I beg the Nigerian Army to post the outcome of the investigation on its social media platforms so that the whole world will know what truly transpired and what led to my discharge. I will be very grateful if my request is considered.

Urges Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy to intervene

“I’m calling out the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy. You’re not just a mother, you’re a woman everybody respects so much. Please come out and say things as they are. Ma, you requested me to leave the job, and I submitted my handwritten voluntary resignation letter to you, which you gave to the Army, and requested that they release me to your office. The psychiatric doctors were there when you intervened.

“Come out and tell the truth, ma. Thereafter, the Chief of Army Staff called me on July 1, where he told me he converted my voluntary discharge to a medical discharge because you wanted me to benefit from pension and other entitlements. How was I boarded out, and where is this mental illness coming from?”

[Vanguard]

The Stakeholders Consultative Forum on Emerging Technologies which held in Lagos on September 19, 2024, as a precursor to the coming of WIFI 6, has animated industry discussions on the beautiful shape of things to come. It is a new world out there and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) with necessary approvals from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), has planned to formally introduce the technology to the nation but not before following its long laid down procedure of public consultation.

The forum was themed, “The Use of GHz (5925-7125)MHz for WiFi 6 and IMT applications in Nigeria”.

Engr Abraham Oshadami, Executive Commissioner, Technical Services (ECTS), who stood in for Dr Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the NCC, called the gathering a tradition which provides a platform for the regulator to consult with operators, investors, customers and other relevant stakeholders to examine, share and constructively exchange ideas to ensure optimal utilisation of the benefits of the Spectrum to achieve regulatory excellence and operational efficiency.

There was so much to talk about, especially the significance of deploying WiFi 6 in the lower band 6GHz Spectrum Band, specifically between the range 5925 and 6425 MHz. WiFi 6 represents a quantum leap in wireless technology as it offers the opportunity to support more devices with faster speed and greater reliability.

The regulator told its audience that the development is “particularly very strategic in a world increasingly dominated by the Internet of Things (IoT), where everything, from smart homes to advanced industrial systems, depends on robust wireless connectivity. The deployment in the lower 6GHz is not just about faster Internet, it’s about enabling the next generation of technological innovation and economic growth.”

For the industry people who are used to paying for nearly everything they get from the regulator, including services, this may sound like strange music. Engr Gbenga Adebayo, the ALTON President, told this writer within the week, that WiFi 6 is a positive development for the industry. It presents a win-win situation where everybody benefits as it will impact easy deployment, availability and cost, even as more and more devices get connected. It is obviously a good turn for the industry, he observed.

The taste of the pudding, they say, is in the eating. So, NCC, when is WiFi 6 coming on stream? Our much maligned younger generation will be interested in the answer. Or will this be another story of Waiting for Godot?

President Bola Tinubu has called for inclusivity, multilateralism and permanent seats for Nigeria and Africa on the United Nations security council.

Africa has long clamoured for equal representation on the council.

Each year, the UNGA elects five new members from different geographical zones for two-year terms on the council. The continent has three rotational seats on the 15-member UN body.

Speaking at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday, Tinubu, who was represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, said a reform of the council has become imperative.

“Some permanent members of the United Nations security council have offered encouraging, if tentative indications of support on the issue of reform of the council. We welcome the change in tone and urge an acceleration in momentum to the process,” he said.

“The security council should be expanded, in the permanent and non-permanent member categories, to reflect the diversity and plurality of the world. We fully support the efforts of secretary-general Guterres in this regard.

“Africa must be accorded the respect that it deserves in the security council. Our continent deserves a place in the permanent members category of the security council, with the same rights and responsibilities as other permanent members.”

Tinubu also sought for debt forgiveness for Nigeria and a reform of the global financial architecture.

“We reiterate the call by countries, especially of the global South, for reform of the international financial architecture and promotion of a rules-based, non-discriminatory, open, fair, inclusive, equitable and transparent multilateral trading system,” the president said.

“Similarly, we must ensure that any reform of the international financial system includes comprehensive debt relief measures, to enable sustainable financing for development.

“Countries of the global South cannot make meaningful economic progress without special concessions and a review of their current debt burden.”

ILLICIT FINANCIAL FLOWS

Tinubu also harped on the dangers of climate change, proliferation of weapons, coups on the African continent and human rights abuses.

“From last year’s summit, and indeed from previous years, we have carried over the numerous challenges of terrorism, armed conflict, inequality, poverty, racial discrimination, human rights abuses, food crises, hunger, irregular migration, piracy, global pandemics, hyper-inflation, nuclear proliferation, grinding debt burden, climate change, and a host of other vexations,” he added.

“The continued manifestation of these challenges testifies to our failings rather than to any lofty achievements on our part. Billions of dollars are being committed to the prosecution of wars and the fanning of the embers of conflict.

“Our people need employment. They need decent livelihoods. They desire good and affordable education and healthcare for their children and families. They need to live in healthy, safe and secure environments. They need hope and they need opportunity.”

The president also spoke about recovery of the proceeds of corruption and illicit financial flows, maintaining that the return of such funds to countries of origin “is a fundamental principle of the United Nations Convention against Corruption”.

“Therefore, the international community must promote practical measures to strengthen international cooperation to recover and return stolen assets and to eradicate safe havens that facilitate illicit flows of funds from developing countries to the developed economies,” he added.

On the sidelines of the UNGA, Shettima also solicited the support of Finland in Nigeria’s pursuit of a permanent seat on the UN security council.

During a meeting with President of the Republic of Finland, Alexander Stubb, Shettima said: “Nigeria has 25 years of uninterrupted democracy. And in Bola Tinubu a president with huge democratic credentials and commitment. With him in the saddle, Africa and the larger world would be safe, futuristic, acceptable and more peaceful.”

[TheCable]

In Nigeria, it is an all-too-familiar story: a politician campaigns with bold promises, rallies the hopes of the people, and once elected, the narrative shifts. The pledges made to the electorate fade into the background, overshadowed by the influences of political godfathers or internal party struggles. Many politicians, after securing office, appear more focused on maintaining loyalty to those who put them in power or engaging in conflicts that detract from real governance. The people, left with unfulfilled promises, are often sidelined. But Monday Okpebholo has an opportunity to change this pattern in Edo State. 

Okpebholo, Governor-elect, ahead of the running of the next governance dispensation in Edo State, must understand that the people of Edo are tired of politics as usual. They are searching for a leader who will genuinely focus on their needs, who will rise above the distractions of power struggles, and who will be different from the norm. 

The expectations for Monday Okpebholo are high, and he must show from the outset that he is not just another politician repeating old patterns. Being different means staying true to his word and ensuring that the promises made during his campaign are not simply forgotten once he is in office. Okpebholo must be a leader whose loyalty lies with the people of Edo and not with political godfathers who often manipulate officeholders for their personal gain.

Too often, newly elected officials get caught up in the politics of those who brought them to power. They become distracted by playing to the tunes of their political benefactors or spend their time engaged in personal vendettas and power struggles within their parties. Okpebholo, however, must resist these pressures. He needs to focus on the very people who elected him and deliver on his promises to transform Edo State.

One of the major failings of Nigerian politicians is their tendency to get bogged down in unnecessary political fights, usually with their predecessors or godfathers. In Edo, we have seen how political infighting can derail progress and stagnate development. Monday Okpebholo must chart a different course. Instead of expending his energy on needless political battles, he should focus on the real issues that matter to the people of Edo: job creation, infrastructure development, education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation.

Edo needs a leader who can rise above petty squabbles and instead, build bridges. Okpebholo must forge alliances that will enable him to serve the people effectively, not destroy his tenure with personal or party conflicts. His focus should remain on leaving a legacy of progress, rather than wasting his time on distractions that have nothing to do with the well-being of Edo citizens.

To truly be different, Okpebholo must reject the typical Nigerian political playbook, where godfathers exert a heavy influence over elected leaders. This has been a significant obstacle to good governance, with elected officials feeling more indebted to the political elites than to the electorate. Okpebholo must show independence and integrity in his governance. He should be beholden only to the people of Edo State and committed to making decisions that reflect their best interests, not the interests of a few powerful individuals. 

Edo citizens are tired of leaders who are puppets in the hands of political godfathers; they are yearning for a leader who will chart his own course based on what is best for the state. Breaking free from this long-standing culture will require both courage and resilience, but it is critical if Okpebholo truly wants to deliver a new kind of leadership in Edo.

At the heart of being different is putting the people first. This means being a leader who is accessible, transparent, and accountable. Okpebholo must create systems that ensure the people of Edo can hold him accountable throughout his tenure. Regular communication with the public, town hall meetings, and feedback mechanisms are essential tools for demonstrating that he is in office to serve the people.

More than just lip service, Okpebholo must implement policies that directly address the concerns of the average Edo citizen. This includes tangible progress in areas like infrastructure, security, education, and economic empowerment. The people of Edo do not want grand political gestures, they want to see real, lasting improvements in their daily lives. If Monday Okpebholo can deliver on this, he will truly be different.

Leadership is not just about addressing current challenges, it is about laying a foundation for the future. Okpebholo must embrace development plans that go beyond his term in office and focus on long-term progress for Edo State. Key areas such as education, healthcare, job creation, and industrialization are essential for the future growth of the state. 

Building a sustainable economy that is less reliant on federal allocations will require investing in Edo’s comparative advantages, including agriculture, tourism, and human capital development. Okpebholo should also focus on improving access to quality education to equip Edo’s youth with the skills needed for the modern economy. A forward-thinking leader must prioritize projects that may not necessarily bring immediate political gain but will yield results for generations to come.

One of the pressing challenges in Edo State is the issue of insecurity, which has stifled economic growth and threatened the peace of its residents. Okpebholo must prioritize security if he truly wants to serve the people. A leader who is different understands that without security, no meaningful development can take place. 

In collaboration with security agencies and community leaders, Okpebholo must design a security architecture that is inclusive, efficient, and community-based. He must tackle issues such as kidnapping, armed robbery, and communal clashes with innovative strategies. By restoring peace and security, Edo State can become a hub for investment and development, providing its citizens with the environment they need to thrive.

Okpebholo must also make a deliberate effort to empower the youth and women in Edo State. Youth unemployment is a ticking time bomb in many Nigerian states, and Edo is no different. Okpebholo can be different by focusing on entrepreneurship programs, skills acquisition, and access to finance for young people. By doing so, he can help create a generation of self-sufficient youths who will contribute positively to the state’s economy.

Women are equally essential to Edo’s progress, and Okpebholo should prioritize policies that support gender equality and women’s empowerment. Women in Edo deserve to be fully integrated into the state’s decision-making processes, and Okpebholo can set the tone by ensuring that women hold key positions in his government.

Monday Okpebholo has a unique opportunity before him. He can break the chain of political disappointment that has plagued Edo State and Nigeria at large. But to do so, he must be different. He must be the leader who rejects godfatherism, avoids the distractions of political in-fighting, and stays true to the promises made to the people. Okpebholo must put the people first, and if he can do that, he will not only win their trust but also secure a lasting legacy of progress in Edo State.

The people of Edo are watching closely. They have heard many promises before, and they have been let down too often. This is Monday Okpebholo’s chance to stand out, to break the mold, and to show that he is indeed different. The future of Edo depends on it.