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Former elected local government council chairmen in Enugu State have honoured the Executive Chairman of Nkanu East Local Government Area and Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Enugu State chapter, Sydney Edeh, with an Award of Excellence for Distinguished Service and Comradeship.
The former council chairmen, who praised Edeh’s leadership and commitment to the welfare of former and serving council chairmen, also declared their support for the re-election of Governor Peter Mbah.
They spoke at the award ceremony held at the ALGON Secretariat in Enugu.
Edeh, who is also the South-East Chairman of ALGON and Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the association, was honoured for his leadership, commitment to grassroots development, accountability, and efforts to strengthen cooperation among serving and former council chairmen.
Presenting the award, Chairman of the Forum of Former Elected Local Government Council Chairmen and former member of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Samuel Ngene, described Edeh as a leader who had distinguished himself through transparency, humility, and people-oriented leadership.
Ngene said the ceremony was organised to “give honour to whom honour is due,” describing Edeh as a “special breed” whose leadership had earned the confidence of former council chairmen.
He said the forum particularly appreciated Edeh’s spirit of comradeship and consistent support for colleagues who had served or were still serving as council chairmen.
According to him, the forum unanimously resolved to honour Edeh for his distinguished service and contribution to strengthening the local government leadership family.
Ngene disclosed that it was the first time the forum would honour a serving ALGON chairman in the state, assuring Edeh that former council chairmen would continue to support him even after his tenure.
He also commended Edeh for promoting what he described as the culture of accountability, transparency, and development associated with the Mbah administration at the grassroots.
The former council chairmen, while commending Edeh’s leadership, also pledged their continued support for Governor Mbah, describing his administration’s performance as exceptional and transformative.
They urged the governor to sustain his development agenda, particularly at the grassroots, and expressed their readiness to support his bid for a second term.
A former ALGON Chairman in the state, Frank Ugwu, described the award as unprecedented, saying he had to shelve other engagements to attend the ceremony because of his confidence in Edeh’s leadership.
Ugwu urged the ALGON leadership to sustain the relationship between serving and former council chairmen, saying such collaboration would promote continuity and development at the local government level.
Also speaking, Deputy ALGON Chairman, Enugu State, and Chairman of Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area, Ferdinand Ukwueze, described the honour as timely and deserved.
Ukwueze said Edeh had demonstrated that effective leadership was built on inclusion, accountability, and respect for those who had previously served.
He said the award was not only a personal recognition for Edeh but also a source of pride for the ALGON family, urging him to continue providing guidance to his colleagues after leaving office.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship candidate for Nkanu East, Mike Ogbuekwe, who is expected to succeed Edeh, also praised his leadership record.
Ogbuekwe pledged to continue consulting Edeh and drawing from his experience, describing his tenure as a model that should be sustained in the council area.
Other serving and former council chairmen and political leaders who spoke at the event included the Chairman of Enugu South LGA, Caleb Ani; Chairman of Enugu North LGA, Ibenaku Onoh; APC State Women Leader, Esther Edeh; APC State Secretary, Chukwudi Nnadozie; former Chairman of Igbo-Etiti LGA, Ogbonna Idike; former Chairman of Nkanu East LGA, Ejike Ani; former Chairman of Awgu LGA, Cyril Anioke; former Chairman of Aninri LGA, Okezie Nwanjoku; former Chairman of Udi LGA, Kene Eze; and Deputy Chairman, Nkanu East LGA, Paul Okwor.
The speakers commended Edeh for his humility, accessibility, and commitment to the welfare of his colleagues, while assuring him of their continued support beyond his tenure.
Responding, Edeh thanked the forum for the recognition, saying the honour would further strengthen his resolve to serve the people and promote unity among stakeholders.
He urged serving and incoming council chairmen to maintain strong relationships with their predecessors, stressing that those who once occupied public offices should not be forgotten after leaving office.
“One day, all of us will become former chairmen,” Edeh said, adding that respecting former leaders would promote continuity, mutual respect, and institutional stability at the grassroots.
He said he had, since assuming office, prioritised the recognition and welfare of former council chairmen and other stakeholders in Nkanu East, insisting that such gestures had not distracted his administration from delivering infrastructure.
Edeh listed the Ojorowo Bridge, the 13-kilometre Ugbawka Road, Iyiakpu Bridge, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah Hall, and other projects as evidence of his administration’s commitment to physical development in Nkanu East.
Reflecting on his political journey, Edeh recalled that he started as Secretary to a Development Centre before rising to his present position, describing the journey as one marked by challenges and various political and administrative experiences.
He attributed his progress to the grace of God and expressed appreciation to Governor Mbah for the support and confidence reposed in him.
Edeh said the governor’s backing had contributed significantly to his success as ALGON chairman, urging the former council chairmen to reciprocate the governor’s support by making his re-election a priority.
He said supporting Mbah’s bid for a second term would be “the greatest honour” they could accord the governor in appreciation of his support for local government administration and development in the state.
Edeh said: “The greatest honour we can give the governor is to ensure that he returns for a second term. We must support him because of what he has done for the local governments and the development of Enugu State.”
