By Anthony Nwizi
When in 2021 the then Governor of Ebonyi State, now Minister of Works, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Engineer David Nweze Umahi, CON, alongside the Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, now Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, took the bold and strategic decision to decamp from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the move sent shockwaves across the political landscape of the South East. At the time, many voices rose in condemnation.
They were called names, accused of betrayal, and ridiculed for what many perceived as political miscalculation.
Yet, as history often proves, true leadership is not about following the crowd but seeing beyond the moment.
Today, the narrative has changed. The same South Eastern states that vehemently criticized Ebonyi’s political realignment are now racing to join the APC — the same platform they once derided.
The very decision that drew scorn has now become the path of wisdom. It is clear that what Ebonyi State saw years ago, others are only now beginning to see.
This unfolding reality reinforces Ebonyi’s position as a state blessed with visionary leadership — men who act not out of sentiment, but with a clear sense of direction.
From the days of its creation in 1996, Ebonyi has been guided by leaders who saw governance as a tool for transformation.
The results speak for themselves: towering infrastructural development, improved human capital, and a renewed sense of identity for the Ebonyi people.
Today, under The People's Charter of Needs leadership of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Nwifuru Francis Ogbonna, the state continues on this path of progress and stability.
His administration’s focus on human empowerment, social welfare, and continuity of infrastructural projects has further consolidated Ebonyi’s place as a model of governance in Nigeria.
As the rest of the South East begins to align with the realities Ebonyi embraced years ago, it is evident that Ebonyi State will continue to lead while others follow. Indeed, the stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
This is not by accident, but by the blessing of foresight and the gift of quality leadership that has defined Ebonyi State since its creation.
Ebonyi has once again proven that true visionaries are often misunderstood at first — but in time, their wisdom becomes undeniable.
Anthony Nwizi is the Director General of Ebonyi Broadcasting Corporation, EBBC.
