By Leo Ekene Oketa
In a disappointing but telling development, my beloved and respected elder brother, Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh (IMMACULATE), appointed to the newly inaugurated Ebonyi State Economic Team by His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has declined the appointment, citing the timing of the team’s constitution, two years into the Governor’s tenure and, quite evidently, political affiliations.
This decision, while within his rights, reveals a troubling mindset that places personal and partisan interest above the collective good of the people. At a time when leaders should rise above party lines to build a better future for Ebonyi, this kind of political posturing is both regrettable and shortsighted.
Governance is about service not sides. The Governor’s decision to appoint individuals across states, political, and professional divides was a deliberate gesture of unity and inclusion. It was a statesmanlike move to assemble a team of technocrats and patriots, not politicians, who can contribute meaningfully to the long-term industrialization and economic transformation of the state.
By declining the offer, he has missed a noble opportunity to serve and to be part of something larger than personal or party identity, to put Ebonyi first.
The timing argument falls flat. Some critics on this media space have attempted to use the timing of the team’s inauguration – two years into the Governor’s term, as a basis for rejecting the initiative. This argument is fundamentally flawed. Economic reforms and strategic development are long-term processes, not tied to political calendars. Governor Nwifuru chose the right time, after stabilizing key areas of governance and delivering immediate needs to the people, to now launch a forward-looking economic agenda that will outlive his administration. It is both prudent and strategic, not late.
No one is indispensable. Let it also be made clear: no single individual is bigger than the collective vision. The Governor has assembled a credible, competent, and diverse team, including the likes of Prof. Barth Nnaji, Dr. Joe Abah, Dr. Mark Abani, and Chief Mike Chukwu, highly respected professionals with proven national and international track records. The refusal of one person to serve does not invalidate the strength or relevance of the team. Nor does it suggest that the one who declined is superior to those who have answered the call to duty. For a fact, he may even be the least.
And so, this is a call for maturity and statesmanship. Ebonyi’s future demands maturity, patriotism, and a higher sense of responsibility. Personal or political preferences should never stand in the way of progress. Those given the chance to contribute must see it as a sacred duty, not a personal or partisan calculation. This is why today, we have many of our past and present leaders, even those in different political alignments, join hands with the Governor for a better Ebonyi State and he is always open to accepting criticisms and put them to work for the good of the people.
Governor Nwifuru has shown magnanimity, vision, and courage by extending a hand across divergent lines. That gesture should have been embraced by anyone who truly believes in the development of Ebonyi State. Building Ebonyi should be bigger than personal idiosyncrasies and politics. Because in truth, history will remember those who built bridges, not those who walked away from them.
Ebonyi is moving forward, with or without personal and political egos.
Leo is the
Special Assistant Governor Nwifuru on
New Media
