Osogbo community protests erratic electricity supply by IBEDC
By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
There was total confusion at the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) Osogbo District Office on Wednesday morning as landlords and tenants from many communities in Osogbo trooped out to protest what they described as erratic electricity supply by the IBEDC.
The protesters was armed with placards bearing varying inscriptions, the residents converged at Oke-Baale junction, and matched to IBEDC office at Station Road area of Osogbo where they expressed their displeasure over the lack of power supply.
They lamented that commercial businesses are being hampered while pervasive darkness in communities at night is already threatening security of lives and property of the affected communities.
Inscriptions on some of the placards read, “We are paying for darkness, it is unfair”, IBEDC, Restore Our Light, Darkness is Threatening Our Security “, Authorities Must Do Something Urgently, Our Means of Livelihoods Are Dying”, among others.
The protesters in their separate interviews with our Correspondent, said that the Nigerian Army and Air Force bases in Osogbo are also affected by the epileptic electricity supply, expressing fear that the situation is a threat to national security.
One of the residents, Olasanya Temitope, who is the Secretary of Federal Housing Estate Community, Ilesa Road, Osogbo, said no fewer than 41 communities participated in the peaceful demonstration.
“We have about 41 communities that comprises of Owode Federal Housing Estate, the Military and Air Force bases, and other communities. We are tired of this epileptic power supply that is being given to us. In months now, we have not been enjoying this light at all. They will bring it and after 10 minutes, the light is off again. A lot of businesses have been paralyzed. A lot of people cannot enjoy their living at home again. So, we are all tired of what is happening. That is why we are out today to express our minds and tell the IBEDC to restore the light back to us”, Temitope lamented.
Others who spoke with journalists, called on relevant authorities to act swiftly and save Osun from looming security threats following the lack of power supply to the military formation.
“Depriving Air Force and Military of electricity is a threat to national security”, they added.