What a Young Soldier’s Stand Teaches Leaders About Courage, Honesty, and Building a Bulletproof Legacy
It was a scene that could have been pulled from a movies script, yet it was all too real. In Abuja, Nigeria recently, a confrontation unfolded. On one side, Nyesom Wike, the powerful and feared Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), a man with a formidable character who, as a former governor, is one of the most influential figures in the new administration. On the other side, Lt. AM Yerima, a young Nigerian soldier.
Learn How to Leverage Your Story through our Story To Asset Framework.
The minister, visibly agitated, had arrived at a disputed plot of land, reportedly to investigate an encroachment. His way was blocked by a small unit of soldiers. The minister, accustomed to his authority being absolute, advanced on the young officer.
What happened next became a viral sensation, viewed millions of times. As the minister berated him, raising his voice, the officer did not flinch. He did not yield.
“You are a very big fool,” the minister exclaimed. “At the time I graduated, you were still in primary school.”
The response from Lt. Yerima was calm, clear, and immediate. It cut through the tension with the sharpness of a blade.
- “I am not a fool, sir,” he stated, refusing the insult.
- “I am an officer. I have integrity.”
- “I am a commissioned officer, sir. You can’t shut me up.”
- “I take to orders.”
In a country, and indeed, a world where it is rare to see junior officials stand up to immense authority, this was a lightning bolt. Social media erupted in praise. Users hailed the lieutenant’s “courage,” “bravery,” and “unshakable boldness.” His photo quickly became a symbol.
In that single, high-pressure exchange, Lt. Yerima’s public legacy was forged.
This one moment, captured by a smartphone, tells us more about his character than a 200-page resume ever could. It’s a “defining moment”, a concept that is absolutely critical for you, as an established leader or the custodian of a multi-generational family business.
Your 20, 30, or 50-plus years of success are built on a collection of these defining moments. The question is: Are they recorded? Or, like most, are you letting your most valuable assets fade into memory?
1. Beyond the Balance Sheet: The True Anatomy of a “Legacy Moment”
We often mistake “legacy” for the things we can count: revenue, buildings, assets, or employee numbers. But these are just the results of a legacy. They are the “what.”
A true legacy isn’t just built; it’s forged. It’s born in the high-stakes moments where your “why” is tested, and your values are made real.
This is the core principle Obehi Ewanfoh champions. He continuously encourages founders and business owners to leverage the unique power of their story, allowing them to rise above the noise and never need to compete.
This concept is clearly outlined in his five-part book series, The Storytelling Mastery, which guides readers all the way from the basic setup of a story to narrative mastery.
Now a “Legacy Moment” has three components:
- Immense Pressure: A powerful client, a market crash, an unethical demand, a fearsome competitor, or, in Lt. Yerima’s case, a powerful politician.
- A Core Principle: A non-negotiable value. For the soldier, it was duty (“I take to orders”) and professionalism.
- A Courageous Stand: The decision to uphold that principle, even at great personal or professional risk. For Lt. Yerima, it was honesty (“I am not a fool, sir”) and integrity (“I am an officer, I have integrity”).
For the Established Diaspora Leader (CEO, Founder, Coach): Think back across your 20+ year career. You have had these moments.
- The investor who told you to “just tweak the numbers” to close the deal, and you refused.
- The client who demanded you compromise your ethics, and you fired them, risking that quarter’s payroll.
- The personal crisis that nearly destroyed your business, but you stood by your team and rebuilt it, brick by brick, with integrity.
These stories, of courage, of honesty, of standing your ground—are the real curriculum of your expertise. They are the proof behind the brand you’ve built.
For the Multi-Generational Family Business:
Your company’s 50+ year history is steeped in these moments. Your founder definitely had them.
- The time your grandmother refused to use cheaper ingredients during a recession, even when competitors were, establishing your brand’s commitment to quality.
- The time your grandfather faced down a buyout offer from a massive corporation, choosing to stay independent and protect his community’s jobs, establishing your brand’s commitment to loyalty.
- The internal decision to honor a handshake deal, even when it became unprofitable, establishing your brand’s commitment to integrity.
These are not just charming anecdotes for the company Christmas party. They are your single most valuable marketing asset.
Why Honesty is Your Most Powerful Marketing Asset
We live in an age of profound and pervasive distrust. The 2024 Edelman Trust Barometer reports a deep societal fear of misinformation and a continued skepticism of institutions, including businesses and media.
Your customers, partners, and employees are bombarded with “flowery” marketing language, AI-generated content, and promises that ring hollow.
In this environment, authenticity is the new premium. And nothing is more authentic than a true story of courage and honesty.
When you are a multi-generational family business competing against cheaper, mass-produced alternatives, how do you justify your premium price?
You don’t do it with a slick brochure. You do it with your story.
When a potential client learns that your founder personally visited the quarry to select the stone for his first project, and that your company has upheld that standard for 70 years… they are no longer just buying a product. They are buying trust. They are buying a promise.
When you are a Diaspora leader packaging your decades of expertise into a high-ticket coaching program or consultancy, how do you prove your value?
You don’t do it with a list of certifications. You do it with your story.
When a potential mentee hears you speak openly about the “Legacy Moment” you faced in your 10th year, the failure that taught you everything, the ethical stand that cost you a fortune but defined your principles they are no longer just buying “expertise.” They are buying wisdom. They are buying proof of character.
See also Building Cultural Understanding: How African Diasporans Can Participate in Africa’s Rich Traditions
Lt. Yerima didn’t have to tell anyone he was professional, disciplined, and courageous. His defining moment showed them.
Your legacy stories do the same for you. They move your brand from a simple commodity (what you sell) to a conviction (what you stand for).
The Unspoken Risk: When Your Legacy Fades to Hearsay
Here is the hard truth: That powerful confrontation in Abuja was almost lost forever. It was only saved because someone was standing there with a smartphone.
What about your moments? Who was recording?
For 99% of leaders and businesses, the answer is no one.
Your legacy, your most valuable asset, is currently stored in the most fragile medium possible: human memory. And this exposes you to two existential risks.
1. The Risk of Dilution:
As the story is passed down, it gets distorted. The details get fuzzy. The emotion and the lesson are lost. Your grandfather’s harrowing ethical stand becomes a “funny anecdote” his great-grandchildren barely remember.
The core principle of courage and honesty that built the entire company is diluted until it disappears.
2. The Risk of Extinction:
The story simply dies with its custodian.
When you, the founder, are no longer here to tell the story of why you started the company… does the “why” even exist anymore?
When your parents, the second-generation leaders, pass on… do their children (the third generation) truly understand the sacrifices, the principles, and the courage it took to get them there?
- Without the story, the next generation inherits a business, not a legacy.
- Without the story, your new employees follow a rulebook, not a mission.
- Without the story, your customers just see a price tag, not a purpose.
- Your legacy, built over a lifetime, risks becoming mere hearsay.
From Moment to Monument: How to Secure Your Story
You cannot leave your life’s work to chance. You cannot hope that someone will “remember” your defining moments.
You must be as intentional about preserving your legacy as you were about building it.
This isn’t about a fleeting social media post or a quick “About Us” page. This is about creating a permanent, foundational, and premium asset that captures your story for the next 100 years. This is where we, at AClasses Media, excel.
We transform your defining moments from fading memories into timeless monuments.
The Legacy Book:
This is the “bible” of your journey. We conduct deep, journalistic interviews to unearth these defining moments of courage and honesty. We research your history, your industry, and your impact. We then professionally write and design a stunning, hard-cover book that serves as the permanent, authoritative record of your “why.” It’s an unmatched asset for your family, your board, and your high-value clients.
The Signature Documentary
This is your story brought to life. A broadcast-quality documentary that allows your children, your employees, and your customers to see the conviction in your eyes and hear the passion in your voice as you recount the moments that mattered. It transforms your “why” from text on a page into a living, breathing emotional experience.
These assets are not expenses. They are the most critical investment you will ever make in your future, ensuring that the courage, honesty, and integrity that built your name will continue to power it for generations to come.
Your Legacy is Your Most Valuable Asset
Lieutenant Yerima’s story is a powerful reminder that legacy is forged in moments of courageous, honest character. His story was captured by chance. Yours must be captured by choice.
Are your defining moments secured? Is your real story—the one of pressure, principle, and courage—at risk of being forgotten?
Your legacy is your most valuable asset. Before you print another brochure, let’s talk about how to immortalize it. Book your free 15-minute Legacy Strategy Call today to design the asset that will tell your story for the next 50 years.
