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By Kunle Ajayi
It was in December 2014 when the natives of Ondo South were preparing for the Christmas festivities that electric light went off to the consternation of the people never to return. Before this time, most denizens of the coastal area had been without light since 2005. Later, the new inheritor of electricity distributorship, benin electricity distribution company (BEDC) averred an alleged indebtedness of the region to the tune of N2billion.
The protest that trailed this inglorious act was of magnitudunal dimension. The Action Group of Nigeria, Ikale Youth Movement, Ikale progressive Agenda, Bring Back Our Light and other groups agitated vigorously against the ugly incident. The political elites of the era promised heaven and earth to effectuate the restoration of light to the Ondo South region.
When the residents besieged the Abuja office of Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) during a meeting with the BEDC to find a panacea in July 6 2017, the regulatory body directed that BEDC should start fixing the light while the residents reconcile. Their debts with them. Alas, no action took place and we are back to the hell of darkness.
Thereafter, political activities went on the rise. 2019 elections were around the corner and the vice-president, Prof. Yemi Osibajo who also doubles as chairman, board of Niger Delta Power Holding Company came around and claimed to have approved the fixing of the damaged electric infrastructures. There were other big promises akin to that of sugar candy mountain. Other aspirants came and paint pictures of speedy reconnection to the national grid. Till date, we are still at nowhere
ERA OF POLITICAL MUMBO-JUMBO CONTINUES
The political elites unwilling unfeeling and unconscious of the situation went on deception spree. They talk of alternative electricity sources. They talk of Rural Electricity Agency (REA). All REA’s solar projects became moribund. The streetlight project at Bamido Street, Igbotako was said to be of 15 units. After few months, only two worked for few more months before the whole thing packed up.
The politicians told brazen lies to the people to garner votes for them. They got elected and abandoned the people and kept them in perpetual darkness.
OUR NEXT LINE OF ACTION
In view of the continued darkness that the people of Ondo South have endured for the past 19 years, we hereby by the way of this petition, notifying the Federal Government, the state government and all responsible stakeholders that Enough is Enough. We will be taking serious and nationally alerting political action by August 1st, 2023.
We will not conclude without saying the Ondo South Senatorial District is the goose that lay the golden eggs for the whole state. The capitalist forces connive and strangle the region in order to perpetually condemn the people to suffering and penury. First, the Oluwa Glass Factory supplying every part of the country glass sheets from locally sourced materials was grounded. To add to the people’s festering wound, the Palm Oil Factory in Okitipupa that once attracted foreign investments is in deathrow. To finally crumble the dream of the people, artificial darkness was created to destroy the small scale industry. Now, the region is a shadow of itself. This is totally unacceptable!
We therefore call on all Nigerians of good conscience, especially the terribly affected people of Ondo South to sign this petition, and also popularize the August 1 lost Call to Decisive Actions. We are clear that Ondo South people must take our destinies into our hands for there to be light again. Together, victory is very certain.
Peoplesmind
