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Here is the full text of the Valedictory Speech by the immediate past National President of the Association Of Local Governments Of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Alabi Kolade David, marking the end of his tenure in office:

Good evening Honourable Colleagues, esteemed Board of Trustees of our dear Association (ALGON), Councillors’ Forum here present, the N.U.L.G.E Executives, Distinguished guests.

My name is Hon. Kolade David Alabi; I will like to warmly welcome everyone in attendance and in exaltation of the Almighty God, express my gratitude for being part of this memorable occasion and it is my honour to stand before you as the National President of our great Association – (ALGON).

To start with, let me acknowledge most profoundly the celibate Deputy National President – Hon. Mu’azu Maifata, the indefatigable Chairman of the Board of Trustees – Hon. Odunayo Ategbero J.P, Past and Present National Executive Council members since 2019 when I assumed office as National President.

I cannot but extend my deep appreciation for the unflinching loyalty and exponential dedication of the immediate past Director General- Mrs. Binta Bello and the entire National Secretariat Staff.

Honourable Colleagues, Distinguished guests, today is a momentous occasion for all of us, our collective efforts to sustaining the well over 774 LGs and Area Councils are almost to be paid off as the needed constitutional impetus to guaranteeing Local Governments Autonomy in the quest for positive impact and the needed consequential paradigm shift is in sight !! At the risk of being immodest, thanks to our collective efforts.

My valedictorian marks the end of yet another extraordinary chapter being the longest serving ALGON National President (2019 – 2024); with this chapter getting closed, I am certain about the next phase because unlike an “English Book”, we cannot skip through the pages of lifetime to see how long the next chapter is going to be! We all have our book of life that has not yet been written and everyday that passes is another page we write in ourselves. Bravo !! You gave me everything that I needed to write my own stories. A million thanks!!

My affable Colleagues, Distinguished guests, your indulgence I crave in retrospect of my journey in ALGON to chronicle the critical travails and successes. Incidentally and without prejudice, I met ALGON in a state of disunited entity that called for a rebirth, rejigging and repositioning!!

The journey was intricate, long and ladden with thorns but our accomplishments bore limits as a result of our resilience, patience and dedication. For no leisure of time and space due to this Holy month of Ramadan and Lenten periods, I have managed to compress my 40-page VALEDICTORY speech to a 4-page document. For instance, 4 months into my tenure in 2019, it was characterised with turbulence, reconciliations, endorsement, vote of confidence and Concensus- building across the States.

Notwithstanding all of the distractions of the gloomy days, it is with utmost fulfilment that I wish to put on record God’s benevolence and unlimited favour on me in my ALGON sojourn.

1. I was the very first ALGON National President from the South – West.

2. The longest serving National President. (2019 – 2024).
3. Recovered the ALGON HOUSE on Yedestem Street, Mataima.
4. Resuscitated the almost abandoned Comprehensive Primary HealthCare Centres in the 774LGS. PUT CAVEAT ON CONTRACT AWARDING and other vices that tend to put the Association in State of disrepute!!
5. Initiated the 5-year ALGON Strategic Plan
6. Renewed ties with stronger bonding with Development Partners particularly United Cities and Local Governments- Africa (UCLG – Africa) and indeed took about 20nos Local Government Chairmen to Rabat – Morocco on study tour in 2019.
7. Repositioned ALGON in order to interphase and collaborate with other Development Partners such as the Nigeria Governor’s Forum (N.G.F), the European Union, Commonwealth Local Governments Affairs e.t.c.
8. Improved on the National Secretariat infrastructure with modern aesthetics.
9. Elevated deserving long – serving Staff to appropriate levels.
10. Worked assiduously in pursuant for uniform Local Government Admnistration for 4-year tenure.
11. Continued advocacy, unabated Local Government Elections and discouraging the use of Caretaker Administrators!!
12. Encouraged rotational N.E.C Meetigs that brought about inclusiveness, carrying all members along and bringing about pair-review system that enhanced individual and collective service delivery.

My Evergreen Appointments

1. Appointed – Member, Presidential Committee on Agenda 2020 – 2025 and 2020 – 2050.
2. Presidential Committee Member
3. Board Member – UCLG-AFRICA.
4. Director, Local Government Directorate, APC PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN COUNCIL 2022/23.
5. Vice Chairman, Commonwealth Local Governments Affairs.
6. The very many Local and International Awards.

Honourable Colleagues, Distinguished guests, let me conclude my address on my expectations thereof as I step down as your National President, that today’s occasion is significant and healing on the part of those I might have inadvertently hurt by my actions or inactions, I ask for your forgiveness and in spite of the precarious inflictions and presumptuous economic instability, preposterous hunger, kidnappings that have enveloped our dear country across the length and breadth, we are obliged as “State Actors ” to ensure the stability and peaceful coexistence in our various communities within the grandiose of “loving our neighbours as ourselves “. Hope should never be lost for “as dark the road may seem, there always lies light at the end of it” !!

The will of God and the propensity to drive your thoughts for a better Nigeria will abide in you, Amen!!

I thank you most profoundly for your time and listening ears.

With assurances of my esteemed regards, I remain.

Hon. Alabi Kolade David