Nigeria, July 16 -- "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"- John 1:46

This rhetorical question, asked by Nathaniel in the Gospel of John, has transcended its biblical roots to become a metaphor for skepticism, bias, and the dismissal of people or places deemed too small, too obscure, or too insignificant to produce greatness. Nazareth, in its time, was not known for influence or affluence. It was the least expected place for the Messiah to emerge from.

Today, this same question haunts us in different guises. It resurfaces whenever society questions the capacity of an individual or community to rise beyond stereotypes and defy expectations. And so, as we reflect on the remarkable political ascent of Senator Okey Ezea (Ideke) from Ichi...