THE ANATOMY OF REAL POWER: WHY STRATEGY (NOT SENTIMENT) BUILDS STABILITY.

By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com

“Why the Mind of a Fox and the Heart of a Lion Remain the True Tools of Survival in a Ruthless World.”

Human history has never rewarded the emotional, the naïve or the careless. It has only ever rewarded those who combine intelligence with courage, discipline with foresight and self-respect with strategic thinking. Stability (whether personal, political, economic or societal) is not built on good intentions or feelings. It is built on strategy, structure and the ability to understand human nature without illusion.

The principle is ancient, but eternally relevant:
“A leader must think long-term, act with purpose, control his reactions, observe more than he speaks, judge people by actions not words and understand motives, not emotions.”

In a world engineered around power, competition and survival, these are not suggestions. They are prerequisites.

THE WORLD DOES NOT REWARD SENTIMENT; IT REWARDS STRATEGY.
History itself is the most brutal teacher of this truth. Empires did not rise because their rulers were emotional; they rose because those rulers embraced calculation, discipline and a deep understanding of human psychology.

Niccolò Machiavelli, in The Prince, warned leaders that relying on the goodwill of others is fatal:
“Men are ungrateful, fickle, liars and deceivers. He who builds on their promises builds on the wind.” This statement is not pessimism; it is realism. Leaders who understand this avoid unnecessary betrayal. Individuals who refuse to learn this are repeatedly destroyed by the very nature of people.

Modern psychology confirms Machiavelli’s insight. Research published in The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology shows that humans consistently act in self-interest when under pressure, regardless of emotional relationships. Loyalty collapses when incentives shift. Thus, to survive, one must think strategically, not sentimentally.

THE MIND OF A FOX: WHY INTUITION AND DETECTION ARE WEAPONS.
Every man needs the mind of a fox; the ability to detect danger, manipulation, false loyalty and the subtle motives behind people’s actions.

Albert Einstein once warned: “The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who watch and do nothing.”

Awareness is a weapon.
Observation is a shield.
Perception is a form of intelligence.

To navigate society (politics, friendships, business, leadership) one must be able to observe the fine print of human behaviour. Studies from Harvard University’s Program on Negotiation reveal that people reveal their true intentions not by their speech, but by patterns in their behaviour, consistency and reactions under stress. Words are the poorest indicators of loyalty. Actions are the most accurate. This is why one must observe more than one speaks and judge people by actions not words.

THE HEART OF A LION: THE COURAGE TO TAKE DECISIVE ACTION.
Strategy without courage is paralysis.
Wisdom without boldness is useless.
Intelligence without action is illusion.

Greek philosopher Aristotle taught that courage is the foundation of all virtue: “You will never do anything in this world without courage.”

Courage is not recklessness; courage is clarity. It is the ability to take decisive action when the moment demands it. It is the power to confront danger, make difficult decisions and enforce boundaries. The lion does not fear confrontation.
The lion does not ask for permission to survive.

This is why every wise man must develop not only the mind of a fox but the heart of a lion; the ability to strike decisively, impose order, defend one’s integrity and protect one’s future.

THE UNTAUGHT LAW OF POWER: UNDERSTAND PEOPLE OR BE DESTROYED BY THEM.
Human nature does not change. Technology evolves, cultures shift, economies collapse and rise again, but human instincts remain the same:
SELF-INTEREST, FEAR, AMBITION, ENVY, LOYALTY, BETRAYAL.

The Roman philosopher Seneca warned:
“He who does not understand the nature of people will be destroyed by the nature of people.”

This truth alone explains why emotional people suffer most. They expect fairness in an unfair world. They expect loyalty from people who are naturally self-preserving. They expect truth in a world full of masks and incentives.

Leadership expert Daniel Goleman, in his landmark research on emotional intelligence, revealed that individuals who cannot regulate their emotions make poor decisions, are easily manipulated and lose authority. Emotional impulsiveness is not strength; it is weakness disguised as passion.

This is why the writer says:
“You do not survive this world by being emotional. You do not win by being naïve. You do not rise by hoping others will treat you fairly.”

Fairness is never granted; it is negotiated, protected and enforced.

THE RISE OF THE DISCIPLINED INDIVIDUAL.
To rise in this world, one must become:

Disciplined – because without SELF-CONTROL, external control becomes your master.

Strategic – because life is a game of moves not wishes.

Observant – because information is power.

Controlled – because the calmest mind wins the sharpest battles.

Decisive – because hesitation is the birthplace of failure.

Unapologetically self-respecting – because the world treats you exactly how you treat yourself.

These are not just virtues; they are survival tools.
They are psychological armour.
They are the traits found in the most successful leaders in history, from Nelson Mandela to Lee Kuan Yew.

Mandela famously said:
“One of the most difficult things is not to change society; but to change yourself.”

SELF-DISCIPLINE is the foundation of transformation.
SELF-RESPECT is the foundation of influence.
SELF-MASTERY is the foundation of power.

THE DANGER OF WEAKNESS IN A RUTHLESS WORLD.
Weakness is not forgiven in nature. Animals do not negotiate with PREDATORS. Economies do not reward LAZINESS. Politics does not honour INNOCENCE. And the world does not slow down for those who cannot KEEP-UP.

In his research on geopolitics, Professor Robert Greene, author of The 48 Laws of Power, emphasized:
“A reputation for POWER is POWER. A reputation for WEAKNESS is an invitation to DESTRUCTION.”

The world respects strength.
The world respects boundaries.
The world respects the individual who is capable of being dangerous but chooses discipline.

This is the paradox of true power: Be GOOD when you CAN, but never fear becoming DANGEROUS when you MUST.

It is the same truth expressed in Sun Tzu’s Art of War: “Appear weak when you are strong and strong when you are weak.”

POWER is PERCEPTION, PREPARATION and PRECISION.

THE BALANCE OF WISDOM AND STRENGTH.
The mature man does not rely solely on intellect.
The mature man does not rely solely on courage. He balances the two.

He possesses:

The mind of a fox – SHARP, ATTENTIVE, ANALYTICAL, STRATEGIC.

The heart of a lion – COURAGEOUS, FEARLESS, DECISIVE, STEADY.

This duality is the foundation of stable leadership.
It is the foundation of personal success.
It is the foundation of survival in a world that rewards strength and punishes foolishness.

A wise man is calm, but not passive.
Observant, but not timid.
Kind, but not naïve.
Peaceful, but capable of war.

The ULTIMATE LESSON: REAL LEADERSHIP REQUIRES EVOLUTION, NOT EMOTION.
Stability is not a product of luck.
Success is not a product of sentiment.
Power is not a product of good intentions.

They are all products of strategy, discipline, courage and accurate understanding of human nature.

If you do not shape your mind, the world will shape it for you.
If you do not set boundaries, people will violate them.
If you do not study human behaviour, you will be controlled by it.

The world is not kind.
But it is predictable; when you understand people.

And in a world like this, the wise man arms himself with the sharpest tools:
the mind of a fox, the heart of a lion and the unbreakable discipline of a strategist.

Avalanche of Miracles, Healing as Apostle Suleman Hosts ‘Amazing Grace 2025’ Crusade

It’s yet another prophetic and powerful time at the Omega Fire Ministries International led by famous God’s General, Apostle Johnson Suleman as the 2025 edition of ‘Amazing Grace’ crusade begins in earnest.

The prophetic conference which is being hosted at the ministry’s headquarters in Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria, we gathered, is witnessing God’s presence as usual, and a new dawn has begun for many as the heaven opens over the participants.

The crusade which runs from today, Wednesday, November 26 and ends on Sunday, November 30, 2025, will be a gathering place for healing and salvation, as it promises to be powerfully soaked with new commitments to Christ, profound healings, and mighty deliverance for countless precious souls. The 5-day power-packed crusade, we were told, will see a total attendance of several thousands of participants, including new converts with several souls committing to Christ.

Past crusades hosted by Apostle Suleman usually feature powerful testimonies of divine healing, financial blessings, and overcoming difficulties. Several supernatural events have been recorded at OFM crusades, similar to what the church in Acts had experienced.

Aside from Bible teachings, prayers and deliverance, attendees regularly share personal accounts of miracles, highlighting their transformative experiences. One distinctive attribute of Apostle Suleman, is how many manifestations of the Holy Spirit will occur as he delivers the Word during conferences.

Gavel in a Quiet Hand — South Africa Hands Over G20 Presidency to the United States in a Low-Key Exchange.

By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by saharaweeklyng.com

“In a subdued ceremony overshadowed by diplomatic friction and leadership absences, Johannesburg’s historic G20 closes with pressing questions about debt, climate and whether the Global South’s priorities will survive a U.S. presidency.”

South Africa’s moment as the first African country to hold the G20 presidency (a year-long opportunity to place the continent’s development challenges squarely on the global agenda) ended not with fanfare but with a quiet diplomatic exchange. The handover of the G20 presidency to the United States was conducted in a low-key ceremony at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in Pretoria, reflecting an atmosphere of strained protocol and frayed trust between hosts and a recalcitrant partner.

That muted final act belies the substance of what South Africa attempted across its presidency year: to shift the G20’s attention toward the acute vulnerabilities of low-income nations; debt distress, climate adaptation finance, fair access to critical minerals and the industrialisation that creates jobs. South Africa’s presidency, which officially ran from 1 December 2024 until 30 November 2025, foregrounded the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability” and elevated an Africa-centred workstream through the G20 Africa Expert Panel chaired by Trevor Manuel.

Yet the handover was complicated by geopolitics. Washington’s decision to send a low-level delegation (a chargé d’affaires rather than a head of state or senior minister) and earlier threats by the U.S. administration to boycott parts of the summit turned the symbolic gavel exchange into a diplomatic tightrope. South African officials and commentators had signalled a preference for a discreet transfer to avoid escalation; both capitals publicly agreed to keep the ceremony understated. Still, the optics were telling: a gavel passed in a modest office, not on the summit stage, at the end of what was meant to be a historic African summit.

Why does the tone of a handover matter? Because presidencies shape agendas in tangible ways. South Africa used its term to push the G20 toward concrete measures on debt sustainability and energy-transition finance; priorities that speak directly to fragile economies across Africa and the Global South. The adopted leaders declaration in Johannesburg contained language urging more support for climate adaptation, for debt relief mechanisms and for financing pathways that do not deepen dependency. Those are not decorative commitments; they are lifelines for countries teetering under rising interest rates, climate shocks and shrinking fiscal space.

Trevor Manuel, who led the Africa Expert Panel, captured the seriousness of the moment: “A lack of cooperation between nations will only stagger progress for a shared global vision on growth and development.” His intervention (and the panel’s recommendations) were intended to lock the G20 into a programme that treats the economic fragility of poorer nations as central to global stability, not as peripheral charity. Whether that message will survive the baton-pass to the United States is the central unanswered question of the handover.

Independent analysts are blunt. Saharaweeklyng.com warned that South Africa’s debt focus will be “TESTED” once the United States assumes the chair, suggesting that a shift in priorities is likely when a presidency changes hands and when major economies return to centre stage. The concern is not hypothetical: G20 workstreams require political will and continuity; absent a champion in the White House, negotiations and financing mechanisms for debt relief and energy transition could stall.

This is not merely bureaucratic bookkeeping. Debt restructurings, climate finance windows and technical support for sustainable mineral value chains determine whether African economies industrialise on their own terms or remain suppliers of raw inputs. The Johannesburg declaration and the Africa Expert Panel’s report together presented a blueprint for mobilising international financial institutions (notably the IMF and the World Bank) toward large-scale instruments that could cushion vulnerable economies. Those proposals, if implemented, would alter the development trajectory of entire regions. South Africa’s presidency made that case with unusual moral urgency; the handover now places the future of those proposals at the mercy of shifting political winds.

There are broader diplomatic lessons here. First, hosting the G20 in Africa was a symbolic victory for multipolarity; an assertion that the Global South must have space to set priorities. South Africa’s leaders used the platform to highlight food security, critical minerals and technology for sustainable development. Second, the low-key handover underscores how fragile that assertion can be in the face of unilateral moves by major powers. If a presidency can be effectively downplayed by a boycott or downgraded representation, the multilateral norm of cooperative stewardship is weakened.

Though, let us not mistake formality for failure. Johannesburg produced an outcomes document that, while imperfect, enshrined new language on climate justice and debt relief that advocates can now hold future presidencies to account for. The G20 Africa Expert Panel’s recommendations (formally handed to President Cyril Ramaphosa in November and widely publicised during the summit) give civil society, African finance ministries and international partners a common text to reference in future negotiations. That institutional memory matters.

For South Africa and the African continent, the imperative is clear: CONVERT DIPLOMATIC SPOTLIGHT into INSTITUTIONAL LEVERAGE. That means two things in practice. One, African country must consolidate their proposals into measurable targets and funding requests that multilateral banks and creditor nations cannot easily ignore. Two, South Africa must insist that the incoming presidency fixtures (working groups, technical committees and follow-up mechanisms) include explicit timelines and funding commitments. The soft handover cannot become an excuse for policy atrophy.

The United States now inherits not only a gavel but also a public expectation: oversee a G20 that treats the Global South’s vulnerabilities as collective security risks. If Washington chooses to deprioritise debt relief and climate adaptation finance, it will not merely disappoint African governments; it will undermine the practical foundations of global economic stability. Conversely, if the U.S. presidency embraces the Johannesburg agenda even partially, it could demonstrate that G20 leadership transcends partisan domestic politics. That choice will have consequences felt in capitals from Pretoria to Lagos to New Delhi.

The low-key nature of the handover should not obscure the scale of what was achieved and what remains at stake. South Africa’s G20 year has left a record: a set of proposals, a leaders declaration that acknowledges Africa’s voice and an expert panel report that maps pragmatic pathways. The task ahead is to ensure that these instruments become action, not archive. As Trevor Manuel warned and as South African diplomacy has implicitly argued throughout this presidency, cooperation (not posturing) is the currency of global progress. The world now waits to see whether the United States will treat that currency as legal tender.

In the quiet room in Pretoria where the gavel changed hands, the photograph will be modest and the exchanges measured. But the stakes are anything but small. The next twelve months will test whether the G20 can be more than a theatrical passing of symbols or whether it can be an instrument that translates the moral urgency of Johannesburg into binding, financed commitments for those most at risk. South Africa has passed the baton. The world must now decide whether it will run with the agenda or let it fall.