Opinion

Voice of Emancipation: Lessons from Nehemiah (Pt. 4): Dealing with Opposition

Published

4 years ago

May 28, 2022

Eric

By Kayode Emola

Special Credit: Dr. Bethan Emola

As we near our destination of a sovereign Yoruba nation, there will be those who would seek to see it all come to nothing. Such detractors may pose as friends of the struggle whilst secretly having their own concealed agenda. Our final instalment of the series on Nehemiah considers how to deal with such opposition, both overt and covert.

Just as Nehemiah and Ezra answered the call to restore the walls and the Temple in Jerusalem, several personalities have risen to champion the cause of our people. They are advocating for the Yoruba nation to once again be granted sovereignty and allowed to determine their own future. And just as Nehemiah faced opposition, so do we, as we strive to secure our independence.

In the instance of Nehemiah, he faced opposition in the form of Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite. It is worth noting that both the Horonites, from Samaria (in the modern-day West Bank region of Palestine), and the Ammonites, from Ammon (now part of present-day Jordan), had a vested interest in the perpetual oppression of the Israelites, as both historically had antagonistic relationships with the nation of Israel.

Initially, Sanballat and Tobiah treated Nehemiah’s project as laughable, without any real chance of success. Although angered by the project, their first attack came in the form of ridicule. They launched a personal strike against Nehemiah, even accusing him of treason. Nehemiah responded by pointing out that, as they are not from Israel, this has nothing to do with them, so why should they be bothered about it?

When opponents of our cause launch attacks against our person, it can slice deep and trigger a desire to defend ourselves, to protect our reputation. This is a diversionary tactic, designed to distract us from the real work at hand. When our attention is directed toward these vain arguments, we are no longer working towards the bigger goal, and so progressed can be slowed, or even stopped completely. It is better not to engage, to simply tell such people that this is our work, we are not requiring anything of them, and so it is none of their business.

When ridiculing Nehemiah personally failed to discourage him, Tobiah and Sanballat mocked the Jewish people as a whole, taunting them that their efforts would be futile, that their mission was impossible. Nehemiah did not rise to their bait, becoming entangled in a fruitless war of words that would have drawn him away from the work at hand. Instead, having already answered them the first time, he did not reply again, and simply continued with the work at hand.

We would be wise to take our lead from his response. When those who seek to antagonise us get no further reaction, and see that instead, we apply ourselves all the more wholeheartedly to the work at hand, they will cease their mocking.

When Sanballat and Tobiah saw that they could not use their words to bring down the Jewish people, they decided to take physical action to stop the rebuilding. Nehemiah prayed to God for protection, but, pertinently, did not just pray without action. He took all possible steps to protect and defend the people. He assessed where the weakest points of the work were situated and reinforced them with extra guards. Then he organised teams, half of the men continuing with the work whilst the other half protected them. Even the half that were building kept a weapon in one of their hands whilst working on the walls with the other.

Nehemiah was not complacent or lax in his defence of the project, and neither must we be. For those of us who ascribe to a religion, of course it is good to pray, but we must also take decisive action. We must anticipate our enemies’ plans, and take pre-emptive steps to guard ourselves against them. We must not drop our guard at any point, not when we are tired, nor when we think that we are safe. But we must be ready to defend ourselves at any and every given moment. It is true that this will occupy some of our resources, and this be perceived as hindering the speed of the work, but it is better to continue slowly but consistently towards our goal, than to be forcefully halted entirely.

Tobiah and Sanballat, finding their schemes once again frustrated, next tried to derail the project by guile. They invited Nehemiah to meet with them, perhaps under the guise of seeking resolution. Nehemiah was wise enough to discern that this was a trap, but also humble enough to recognise that his place was alongside all the other Jews, working on rebuilding. Although he was the convener of the building effort, he did not consider himself above doing the physical work as well.

His enemies sent the same message to him four times, and each time Nehemiah sent them back the same answer. He did not let them wear him down or distract his eyes from staying focused at all times on the end goal and so it must be with us. We must be wise and, on our guard, to recognise when those who are not part of our struggle are actually seeking to hinder it. And when we identify such plots, we must not allow ourselves to become wearied or disheartened by their repeated attempts to distract us.

We Yoruba must, as a matter of urgency, realise that each of us needs to be a watch(wo)men, remaining vigilant at all times. The people of Judah did not lose sight of their goal, even when they were tired or overwhelmed by the enormous task before them. I want to urge our Yoruba patriots that this is not the time to relent in our quest for our sovereign nation, and it is certainly not the time to give up. We are within touching distance of victory; if we all pool our resources together, we will see our end realised.

There will be times when those among us become weary, asking if there is an alternative to an independent Yoruba nation, asking whether perhaps settling for a regional Yoruba government within Nigeria could be an acceptable compromise. This is not dissimilar to that which the advocates of restructuring are campaigning for. However, this fails to address the problem of multi-tier citizenship, where the elite are viewed as being superior, above the law and entitled to the country’s riches, whilst everyone else receives only the dregs.

The days of thinking that Nigeria can possibly work are now long gone. Nigeria has passed the point of no return; no Messiah can redeem this dying country. Despite the enormous annual deficit in our budget, the government still has the audacity to borrow N4 trillion for oil subsidy. This portends that worse dangers await on the horizon if we fail to act decisively. We must realise that elections are just a distraction from the real issues. Those that would seek to have us believe that a change in political leadership is the answer are doing so as a diversionary tactic, to draw us away from the effort for independence.

The Jewish people did not relent in their effort to rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem, neither did Nehemiah attend to his detractors’ call for a private meeting. We, too, must not give ear to anyone trying to distract our eyes from the main focus. We should continue to build, using our previous successes to become the foundations for ongoing work, whilst at the same time remaining vigilant to ward off those who seek to do us harm. The only viable solution is total separation from Nigeria, and the time for the realisation of an independent Yoruba nation is now. Yoruba nation is our only solution out of the current mess we have find ourselves, so it is our duty to fight for it with everything that we have.

Opinion

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

Published

6 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

2 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

3 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!