SAPELE RESIDENTS PROTESTS PERENNIAL BLACKOUTS

COMRADE BENSON OKORODUDU ADDRESSING THE CROWD

The issue of power supply in Nigeria, especially in Sapele which is host to the nation’s largest power station, has become an issue of concern as the ancient city is, most often times, plunged into constant darkness for days on end.

Efforts by concerned stakeholders to address the situation through peaceful mediation, has unfortunately been allegedly frustrated by scrupulous officials of the Bendel Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC   

The sad situation has pitched the BEDC against the residents of Sapele who have decidedly, taken up arms by staging a peaceful protest against the activities of the BEDC and have vowed to continue its protests until the government and the management of the BEDC have a change of heart. 

Their complaints are hinged on the huge bills they are made to pay monthly despite the perennial blackouts they have to contend with.

According to Comrade Benson Okorodudu, a concerned indigene of Sapele and a high ranking officer of the Nigerian Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, “the issue of power supply in Sapele cannot change unless there is a change of attitude by the Federal govt on the issue of power generation, Transmission and Distribution in this country”.

What we are experiencing in Sapele and environs is a true reflection of failed leadership at the center, he stated.

We need to look at the "Black market" privatization of the defunct PHCN. 

Whatever went wrong in the process, ought to be corrected by the present administration, Okorodudu queried.  

Unfortunately, the same people who criticized the previous administration on the issue of poor power supply, have swallowed the policy; hook, line and sinker.

Speaking during the peaceful protests organized by citizens of the town, Comrade Okorodudu stressed that, “the guiltiest of them all, are our Representatives in the National Assembly. Year in year out, we read about Bills passed by our Representatives at the National Assembly, yet none is reflective of the fact that electricity is synonymous to peace, development and economic growth”.

According to Comrade Okorodudu, “three years after the deregulation of the power sector, this nation is still battling with less than 2000MW of electricity in a country with a population of over 180 million people. It's a shame and a clear signal that the so called leaders have failed the people who voted them to power”.

How can a serious govt tie its effort to improving power generation to availability of gas, when there are other cleaner and cheaper means of
generating power?, Okorodudu asked.

“Is it not a shame that Nigeria still operates a centralized grid system? Is it impossible to decentralize the grid system, whereby local and state governments can generate power and operate a grid that can effectively cater for the electricity needs of its populace”?

“I don't know the manner of privatized power sector that we have in this country whereby the government is still carrying the financial burden of the failed investors”?

“It is over three years since the private sector took over the business of power generation and distribution in Nigeria and they have not been able to add to what they met in the grid; rather they have succeeded in plunging the nation into perpetual darkness. What is the government waiting for to have the process reversed? Imagine, in Sapele today, there are two power plants that cannot generate up to 200MW and they are counted among power generation companies in Nigeria. What a shame”?

It can be recalled that Sapele, which is one of the very popular cities in Delta state, has some very influential personalities even in the current dispensation. 

One of this influential personalities is the Number Three man in the government of the day; the Honourable Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Honourable Monday Ovwigho Igbuya.

Many have wondered why as influential as he is in the scheme of things in the state, the issue of poor power supply has continued to remain. The youths and even the residents have all expressed concerns and have openly expressed their frustrations, wondering if the presence of the Thermal Station in the town is not a curse.

Sapele, as host community can boast of influential personalities such as Honourable Honourable Monday Ovwigho Igbuya, Chief (Barrister) Kingsley Esiso; the Delta state Chairman of the PDP, Chief Austin Ayomidejor and Chief Paulinus Akpeki, an old timer in the political permutations of Sapele town in particular and Delta state in general (although he does not reside in the town for now but plays a major role in the decision making of things there).

Others are Iroro Clark, Chief Felix Anirah, Chief Charles Obule, Ben Tobi and Barrister Gabriel Eyide who have expressed their support for the movement to ensure that Sapele as host community to the Sapele Thermal Station, enjoys a better deal when it comes to power supply.

The residents of the town have however promised to have a showdown with the authorities if that is the only way they will draw the attention of the Federal Government to their plight.

As it is today, the people have resolved that, with the perennial blackout being experienced in the town, “the masses cannot be forced to pay for services not rendered. It is the right of the good people of Sapele to enjoy steady power supply, while it is their obligation to pay for such services when provided.

As for now, we as a people have decided that, “NO LIGHT, NO PAYMENT OF ELECTRICITY BILLS”, the Comrade emphasized.

Comrade Benson Okorodudu further revealed that due to the perennial outages in Sapele, “most residents/businesses in Sapele have disconnected themselves from the national grid, because of the failure of BEDC to provide quality power supply, lack of Prepaid meters, non reading of existing meters, unholy estimated bills, lack of provision for Relief substations and refusal to energize already built substations through community efforts, etc.

“If BEDC is truly a private company, why will they want to use the state government and traditional institutions to address issues of poor power supply as raised by the good people of Sapele”, he asked?

“Was there any attack on BEDC staff or installations during the last two peaceful protests? Is the demand for steady power supply by the good people of Sapele not achievable”?

The people therefore called on the BEDC to please do the needful and stop the divide and rule tactics and ensure that the town benefits from being a host to the Sapele Thermal Station.

It is pertinent to state at this stage that, despite the shortchanging of the residents of the town in terms of perennial power shortages, for weeks and months running, the people have remained law abiding and peaceful in the protests. No wonder some of the influential personalities have expressed their support to the agitations and demand for a better treatment from the management of Bendel Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC.

 
“A stitch in time”, as the adage goes, “saves nine”. Government and the relevant authorities should ensure that it invites the true representatives of the people and ensure that the needful is done.