Opinion

Voice of Emancipation: Power Must Remain with the People

Published

5 years ago

June 4, 2021

Eric

By Kayode Emola

Many people in Nigeria wonder why the country is the way it is now. However, not many people have actually asked themselves if they truly have the power to make the changes needed to transform the country. Several countries like Nigeria have suffered what the country is going through right now. Some of them have overcome it, but not all of them were able to turn the tide. Take for instance France: the ruling elite did not know that their highhandedness of the country would lead to what we now know to be the French revolution. So, before I go into what happened in the French revolution, let me explain how power is skewed in Nigeria today.

Between 1900 to 1960, when the British were ruling Nigeria, they did not envisage that we would ever rise up to govern ourselves, let alone make decisions based on the popular majority. The British government appointed the Governor-General as well as the other officials so there was little that any of the natives could do in terms of choosing who actually governed them. When the British government handed over power to the natives in 1960, a system was created to disenfranchise the people from choosing their leaders and this system continues to used even to this present day.

Consider: it was recently revealed, in an interview with Harold Smith in 2018, that the British government manipulated the census figures to skew the 1960 Nigeria election in favour of the north. This ideology was handed over to the new native colonial masters of Nigeria who have exploited it to advantage themselves to the detriment of the people. By perpetuating the false idea that the population in the North outnumbers those in the South, this allows those tallying the votes to artificially inflate the Northern vote without suspicion.

Nigeria today has a population of over 200 million people, with a little over 50% over the legal voting age of 18. The number of voters in Nigeria who were registered at the time of the 2019 elections was around 82 million people. Compare this to the 27 million people who actually voted, and we see that only around 24% of the eligible population (12% of the total population) took part in electing the leaders of the country.

On the surface of it, it may appear that it is the apathetic attitude of the voters themselves that is disabusing them of their rightful power. A reasonable government might be expected to seek to create an enabling environment to encourage greater voter participation in elections, thereby putting power into the hands of the people. However, this is not the case in Nigeria; rather the government intentionally makes it difficult for voters to register for any election. Even those that manage to register to vote haven’t circumvented all the hurdles: the government also makes it difficult for registered voters to exercise their democratic rights by putting machinery in place to thwart the exercise. This is the true root cause of the voters’ apathy, and this is what enables the governing powers to continue to rig the elections in their favour.

Back to the French scenario that I mentioned earlier: these were the same tactics adopted by the royal families in France prior to the revolution of 1848. The royal families used their power to ensure that there was no suffrage for the poorer classes of the people, allowing the royal family and elite classes to continue in their way of life in perpetuity. Charles X of France in 1830 abolished freedom of the press, reduced the electorate by 75 percent and dissolved the lower house in a bid to strengthen his own authoritarian rule. Although his successor tried to undo his actions, it was too late to save the royal house in France, as the preceding decades of oppression of the masses had already destined them for doom.

When the ‘have nots’ are more than the well-to-do, it does not take long before the people begin to band themselves together for change. Once the French Prime Minister Guizot resigned on 23 February 1848, the people wasted no time in joining together, convening on 24 February 1848 to organise a provisional government. This constituent assembly sought to achieve two major goals: universal suffrage and unemployment relief. When the universal suffrage enacted on 02 March 1848, over 9 million people were added to the voters register. With the people now able to exercise their rights to vote, they opted for a presidential system of government, thereby abolishing the French monarchy.

The Yoruba peoples’ agitation to leave Nigeria has mostly been spearheaded by the people. I hear a lot of criticism from the youths against the elders and traditional rulers, as they expected the elders to be the ones spearheading the fight for freedom. However, just as our problem did not just begin today, we must realise that those that have permitted the current system to continue do not hold the keys to change. The failure to speak out of the leaders and traditional rulers was what allowed the mass exodus of our people during the slave trade era. If we are to win this battle for self-determination, the Yoruba people and other nationalities must realise that we have to redouble our efforts ourselves to get out of this mess. Once we have our nation, we must ensure that the power remains with the people.

The way we can ensure that power remains with the people is to insist that the electoral system is not so cumbersome that it discourages people from exercising their voters franchise. For instance, in the UK, you don’t even need to show any ID to cast your vote on election day. You don’t also need to wait for a special period to get on the voters register. Once you move to an address, you can write to the electoral commission or register online with your new address and within two to three months, you will be on the electoral register and are able to cast your vote come election day. It is obvious that the British intentionally did not introduce to us their own system of electoral process, as this in a way puts power in the hands of the people. They know that had they done so, it would amount to their own economic suicide as they continue to benefit, both directly and indirectly, from our woeful electoral process that does nothing but puts the mediocre in power.

Countries like Australia, Belgium, Austria and others across the world have even gone one step further by making voting compulsory for the people. This no doubt encourages the people to exercise this subtle power they possess, allowing them to have a voice in making the changes necessary for a decent society to succeed. Although the rules vary between the different countries, in general a small enforceable fine is introduced to ensure full compliance. If the Yoruba nation is to succeed where Nigeria has failed, we need to ensure that there is a framework to allow people to register to vote all year round. We must ensure that when people move house, they are not, through no fault of their own, disenfranchised from exercising their fundamental human right to elect their leaders. That is the only way we can ensure that power is placed in the hands of the people, and remains there to safeguard continuing positive change.

Opinion

How Dr. Fatima Ibrahim Hamza (PT, mNSP) Became Kano’s Healthcare Star and a Model for African Women in Leadership

Published

22 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Eric

By Dr. Sani Sa’idu Baba

My dear country men and women, over the years, I have been opportune to watch numerous speeches delivered by outstanding women shaping the global health sector especially those within Africa. Back home, I have also listened to towering figures like Dr. Hadiza Galadanci, the renowned O&G consultant whose passion for healthcare reform continues to inspire many. Even more closer home, there is Dr. Fatima Ibrahim Hamza, my classmate and colleague. Anyone who knew her from the beginning would remember a hardworking young woman who left no stone unturned in her pursuit of excellence. Today, she stands tall as one of the most powerful illustrations of what African women in leadership can achieve when brilliance, discipline, and integrity are brought together.

Before I dwell into the main business for this week, let me make this serious confession. If you are a regular traveler within Nigeria like myself, especially in the last two years, you will agree that no state currently matches Kano in healthcare delivery and institutional sophistication. This transformation is not accidental. It is the result of a coordinated, disciplined, and visionary ecosystem of leadership enabled by Kano State Governor, Engr Abba Kabir Yusuf. From the strategic drive of the Hospitals Management Board under the meticulous leadership of Dr. Mansur Nagoda, to the policy direction and oversight provided by the Ministry of Health led by the ever committed Dr. Abubakar Labaran, and the groundbreaking reforms championed by the Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board under the highly cerebral Professor Salisu Ahmed Ibrahim, the former Private Health Institution Management Agency (PHIMA) boss, a man who embodies competence, hard work, honesty, and principle, the progress of Kano’s health sector becomes easy to understand. With such a strong leadership backbone, it is no surprise that individuals like Dr. Fatima Ibrahim Hamza is thriving and redefining what effective healthcare leadership looks like in Nigeria.

Across the world, from top medical institutions to global leadership arenas, one truth echoes unmistakably: when women lead with vision, systems transform. Their leadership is rarely about theatrics or force; it is about empathy, innovation, discipline, and a capacity to drive change from the inside out. Kano State has, in recent years, witnessed this truth firsthand through the extraordinary work of Dr. Fatima at Sheikh Muhammad Jidda General Hospital.

In less than 2 years, Dr. Fatima has emerged as a phenomenon within Kano’s healthcare landscape. As the youngest hospital director in the state, she has demonstrated a style of leadership that mirrors the excellence seen in celebrated female leaders worldwide, women who inspire not by occupying space, but by redefining it. Her performance has earned her two high level commendations. First, a recognition by the Head of Service following a rigorous independent assessment of her achievements, and more recently, a formal commendation letter from the Hospitals Management Board acknowledging her professionalism, discipline, and transformative impact.

These acknowledgements are far more than administrative gestures, they place her in the company of women leaders whose influence reshaped nations: New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern with her empathy driven governance, Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf with her courageous reforms, and Germany’s Angela Merkel with her disciplined, steady leadership. Dr. Fatima belongs to this esteemed lineage of women who do not wait for change, they create it.

What sets her apart is her ability to merge vision with structure, compassion with competence, and humility with bold ambition. Staff members describe her as firm yet accessible, warm yet uncompromising on standards, traits that embody the modern leadership model the world is steadily embracing. Under her stewardship, Sheikh Jidda General Hospital has transformed from a routine public facility into an institution of possibility, demonstrating what happens when a capable woman is given the opportunity to lead without constraint.

The recent commendation letter from the Hospitals Management Board captures this evolution clearly: “Dr. Fatima has strengthened administrative coordination, improved patient care, elevated professional standards, and fostered a hospital environment where excellence has become the norm rather than the exception”. These outcomes are remarkable in a system that often battles bureaucratic bottlenecks and infrastructural limitations. Her work is proof that effective leadership especially in health must be visionary, intentional, and rooted in integrity.

In a period when global discourse places increasing emphasis on the importance of women in leadership particularly in healthcare, Dr. Fatima stands as a living testament to what is possible. She has demonstrated that leadership is never about gender, but capacity, clarity of purpose, and the willingness to serve with unwavering commitment.

Her rise sends a powerful message to young girls across Nigeria and Africa: that excellence has no gender boundaries. It is a call to institutions to trust and empower competent women. And it is a reminder to society that progress accelerates when leadership is guided by competence rather than stereotypes.

As Kano continues its journey toward comprehensive healthcare reform, Dr. Fatima represents a new chapter, one where leadership is defined not by age or gender, but by impact, innovation, and measurable progress. She is, without question, one of the most compelling examples of modern African women in leadership today.

May her story continue to enlighten, inspire, and redefine what African women can, and will achieve when given the opportunity to lead.

Dr. Baba writes from Kano, and can be reached via drssbaba@yahoo.com

Opinion

Book Review: Against the Odds by Dozy Mmobuosi

Published

3 days ago

December 4, 2025

Eric

By Sola Ojewusi

Against the Odds is an ambitious, deeply personal, and unflinchingly honest memoir that traces the remarkable rise of Dozy Mmobuosi, one of Nigeria’s most dynamic and controversial entrepreneurs. In this sweeping narrative, Mmobuosi reveals not just the public milestones of his career, but the intimate struggles, internal battles, and defining moments that shaped his identity and worldview.

The book is both a personal testimony and a broader commentary on leadership, innovation, and Africa’s future—and it succeeds in balancing these worlds with surprising emotional clarity.

A Candid Portrait of Beginnings

Mmobuosi’s story begins in the bustling, unpredictable ecosystem of Lagos, where early challenges served as the furnace that forged his ambitions. The memoir details the circumstances of his upbringing, the value systems passed down from family, and the early encounters that sparked his desire to build solutions at scale.

These foundational chapters do important work: they humanize the protagonist. Readers meet a young Dozy not as a business figurehead, but as a Nigerian navigating complex social, financial, and personal realities—realities that millions of Africans will find familiar.

The Making of an Entrepreneur

As the narrative progresses, the memoir transitions into the defining phase of Mmobuosi’s business evolution. Here, he walks readers through the origins of his earliest ventures and the relentless curiosity that led him to operate across multiple industries—fintech, agri-tech, telecoms, AI, healthcare, consumer goods, and beyond.

What is striking is the pattern of calculated risk-taking. Mmobuosi positions himself as someone unafraid to venture into uncharted territory, even when the cost of failure is steep. His explanations offer readers valuable insights into:
• market intuition
• the psychology of entrepreneurship
• the sacrifices required to build at scale
• the emotional and operational toll of high-growth ventures

These passages make the book not only readable but instructive—especially for emerging

African entrepreneurs.

Triumphs, Crises, and Public Scrutiny
One of the book’s most compelling strengths is its willingness to confront controversy head-on.

Mmobuosi addresses periods of intense scrutiny, institutional pressure, and personal trials.

Instead of glossing over these chapters, he uses them to illustrate the complexities of building businesses in emerging markets and navigating public perception.

The tone is reflective rather than defensive, inviting readers to consider the thin line between innovation and misunderstanding in environments where the rules are still being written.

This vulnerability is where the memoir finds its emotional resonance.

A Vision for Africa

Beyond personal history, Against the Odds expands into a passionate manifesto for African transformation. Mmobuosi articulates a vision of a continent whose young population, natural resources, and intellectual capital position it not as a follower, but a potential leader in global innovation.

He challenges outdated narratives about Africa’s dependency, instead advocating for
homegrown technology, supply chain sovereignty, inclusive economic systems, and investment in human capital.

For development strategists, policymakers, and visionaries, these sections elevate the work from memoir to thought leadership.

The Writing: Accessible, Engaging, and Purposeful

Stylistically, the memoir is direct and approachable. Mmobuosi writes with clarity and intention, blending storytelling with reflection in a way that keeps the momentum steady. The pacing is effective: the book moves seamlessly from personal anecdotes to business lessons, from introspection to bold declarations.

Despite its business-heavy subject matter, the prose remains accessible to everyday readers.

The emotional honesty, in particular, will appeal to those who appreciate memoirs that feel lived rather than curated.

Why This Book Matters

Against the Odds arrives at a critical moment for Africa’s socioeconomic trajectory. As global attention shifts toward African innovation, the need for authentic narratives from those building within the system becomes essential.

Mmobuosi’s memoir offers:
• a case study in resilience
• an insider’s perspective on entrepreneurship in frontier markets
• a meditation on reputation, legacy, and leadership
• a rallying cry for African ambition

For readers like Sola Ojewusi, whose work intersects with media, policy, leadership, and social development, this book offers profound insight into the human stories driving Africa’s new generation of builders.

Final Verdict

Against the Odds is more than a success story—it is a layered, introspective, and timely work that captures the pressures and possibilities of modern African enterprise. It challenges stereotypes, raises important questions about leadership and impact, and ultimately delivers a narrative of persistence that audiences across the world will find relatable.

It is an essential read for anyone interested in the future of African innovation, the personal realities behind public leadership, and the enduring power of vision and resilience

Opinion

Redefining Self-leadership: Henry Ukazu As a Model

Published

4 days ago

December 3, 2025

Eric

By Abdulakeem Sodeeq SULYMAN

In a world filled with talents and unique gifts, nurturing oneself for an impact-filled living becomes one of the potent metrics for assuming how one’s life would unfold – either in the nearest or far future. I am sure the question you may be curious to ask is ‘what is the important quality that has shaped the life of every individual who has unleashed their ingenuity?’ Apparently, our society is filled with numerous people, who missed the track of their life. Their iniquity is boiled down to one thing – failure to lead oneself.

Realising how important it is to be your own leader has been the springboard for every transformative life. Notably, this also becomes the premise for appreciating and celebrating Henry Ukazu for setting the pace and modeling self-leadership in this era, where self-leadership is under-appreciated by our people. Self-leadership itself engineers purposeful and impactful living, turning individuals to sources of hope to others.

This is exactly what Henry Ukazu symbolises. The name Henry Ukazu is akin to many great things such as ‘Unleashing One’s Destiny,’ ‘Finding One’s Purpose’ and ‘Triumphant Living.’ Regardless of the impression one have formed about Henry Ukazu, one thing you cannot deny is his ability to be pure to nature and committed to his cause. Henry Ukazu is one of the rare people who still believed in the values of the human worth and has committed every penny of his to ensure that every human deserves to live the best life.

The trajectory of Henry Ukazu’s life is convincing enough to be choosing as an icon by anyone who chooses to climb the ladder of self-leadership. Oftentimes, Henry Ukazu always narrate how he faced the storms of life when birthing his purpose. He takes honour in his struggles, knowing full well that every stumbling blocks life throws at him helped in building himself. If not for self-leadership, he will not found honours in his struggles, let alone challenging himself to be an example of purposeful living to others.

Without mincing words, Henry Ukazu’s life has been blessed with the presence of many people, with some filling his life with disappointments, while some blessing him with immeasurable transformations. Surprisingly, Henry Ukazu has never chosen to be treating people negatively; rather he would only choose the path of honour by avoiding drama and let common sense prevail. That’s one of the height of simplicity!

Dear readers, do you know why today is important for celebrating Henry Ukazu? Today, 3rd December, is his birthday and with all sincerity, Henry Ukazu deserves to be celebrated because he has chosen the noble path, one filled with honours and recognitions for being an icon of inspiration and transformation to the mankind. As Henry Ukazu marks another year today, may the good Lord continue shielding him from all evils and guiding him in right directions, where posterity will feel his role and impacts!

Many happy returns, Sir!