Ogun Residents Protest Six-month Blackout, Issue Two-week Ultimatum
Residents of Ayetoro in the Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State have taken a swipe at the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company over six months of blackouts.
The residents, under the aegis of Yewa North Patriotic Forum, gave a two-week ultimatum to the IBEDC to restore power to Ayetoro and 12 other communities all in the local government area.
The youths expressed concerns over what they called the nonchalant attitude of the power company.
They made known their grievances through an open letter signed by the president of the group, Adeyemi Sunday, and addressed to the state governor, Dapo Abiodun; the Senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Solomon Adeola, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and other stakeholders in the state.
The letter, according to the president of the group, was rejected at the IBEDC office in Leme Area of Abeokuta, the state capital.
In the letter, the group complained that it have been over six months since Ayetoro had experienced power supply.
The youths explained that “other communities like Igbogila, Ibese, Joga Orile, Imasayi, Iboro, Igan Alade, Eegua, Tata, Ijoun, Ijaka oke, Ijaka Isale under Yewa North have not experienced electricity in the last two years”.
The group gave a two-week ultimatum to the electricity company to avert an impending protest and picketing of IBEDC offices within and outside Yewa North.
“We are now sick and tired of this ugly situation and we are hereby giving the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company just two weeks to fix this problem or we will occupy all their facilities within and outside Yewa North Local Government in a peaceful and lawful manner, and we will make sure we use everything within our means to prevent the Federal Government from renewing their operating licence,” the letter read.
While appealing to the governor to wade into the situation, the group stressed that the blackout was already increasing the hardship being experienced by the people.
“The situation is simply becoming unacceptable, increasing the hardship already being experienced by the people making businesses collapse and making lives boring.
“Your Excellency, we urge you to use your good office to timely come to our rescue from the hands of the IBEDC which has zero regard for its customers.
“We demand immediate and urgent restoration of electricity supply to the entire Ayetoro and subordinate communities under Yewa North Local Government. We demand the company to upgrade their facilities and stop subjecting consumers to suffering,” the statement read partly.