A renowned Philosopher, James Russell Lowell (1819-1891) once said, ” The greatest homage we can pay to truth is to use it.” The scorecard of Hon. Sydney Okey Edeh is in every measure far above the expected benchmark. He came to the stage well prepared, and the results are glaring enough for all to see .
Nkanu East local government area which was the least developed council area with near zero revenue base, no Federal or State institution capable of attracting investment, a land with difficult topography for meaningful development and a place where majority of the rural populace survive on farming.
Hon Okey Edeh came on board exactly two years ago as elected chairman.He was confronted with not just developmental challenges, but the menace of’Monday’ sit at home warlords,also referred to as unknown gunmen. Those who are observant enough will know that Nkanu East was then the den of these criminals.
The notorious Agu-Udene forest was dreaded. In Nkanu East, nobody goes out till 4pm on Monday. In the Southern part of the Council area, the Ojolowo bridge was also a security flashpoint. But all that is now history.
The Ojolowo bridge is being revisited with a view to end future security breach. Army checkpoint has been mounted near the bridge. Work is also ongoing at the bridge. The surrounding bushes along the bridge were regularly cleared for long distance visibility.
In Nkanu East, people now go about their businesses without fear of the unknown particularly with the conversion of Agu-udene forest to Farm clusters, and a permanent military base in the area.
The Council Chairman did not stop there, he went further to recruit more vigilante members to assist in tackling security challenges in every community and wards.
In 2022, when he was barely one year in office, Sydney Okey Edeh was made to coordinate the campaign and primaries that brought Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, Governor of Enugu State into power. Before and during the primaries, governance was almost put on hold.
Resources was expended, pressure and time was spent, and virtually all the political Support Groups visited the Council for logistic supports almost on daily basis. It is important to note that campaign expenditure and political management are hardly quantifiable. One may ask, what other achievement is higher than producing a Governor of the State.
Hon Okey did not rest on his oars, he built the Iyiakpu bridge connecting Akpa- Obeagu- Ihuona- Ishienu villages in Amafor Ugbawka. With the 4km of road perfectly embedded with drainage, the people of Ugbawka communities will never forget him in a hurry.
The rural electrification project leading to Nara and Nkerefi is ongoing. Transformers for some communities were procured, while illumination in and around some villages in Ugbawka was made possible through the installation of solar lights by the Council Chairman.
In all, the near completion of the 1,500 Conference hall, building and fencing of the Amagunze Police Station, renovation of both administrative block and warehouse at the Council headquarters, procurement of 3 hilux van for security personnel, and the uncommon support to farmers to boost food production are outstanding enough to give Sydney Okey Edeh, an excellent pass mark.
Watch the video below:
HE WILL DO MORE IF GIVEN ANOTHER CHANCE.
By: Nkanu East Media Team.
