8th March, 2016
Akin Kuponiyi
Ijeshaland which comprises six local governments in Osun State, southwest Nigeria, and two major towns Okemesi-Ekiti and Efon Alaye in Ekiti State, have been plunged into darkness by Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company saddled with the responsibility for electricity distribution in the state.
According to a prominent Ijesha indigene who preferred to be anonymous, what triggered of this alleged “callous action” as described by the Ijeshas started last Monday when some youths in some parts of Ilesha town, the headquarters of the Ijeshas, protested the arbitrary and bogus bills they were asked to pay despite poor power supply, a protest which was spontaneous and did not go down well with the company.
The officials of the company were irked by what they termed the audacity and affront of the youth to protest the alleged injustice and in a bid to punish the protesters and to serve as a deterrent to other communities, cut the power line not only to Ilesha where the incident occurred, but to all six local governments occupied by the Ijeshas namely, Obokun, Oriade, Atakumosa West, Atakumosa East, Ilesha West, Ilesha East and two other towns, Okemesi and Effon Alaye occupied by Ijeshas in Ekiti State.
Since power was cut off in these communities, all business activities have been paralyzed, hospitals have been badly affected, banks, hotels and other allied businesses have been running on the scarce petroleum and costly diesel products to the detriment of the Ijesha people.
Despite the terrible situation, the traditional rulers and community leaders have failed to take action and redeem the situation.
The affected residents said they are now looking up to the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Raufu Adesoji Aregbesola, who is a native of Ilesha, to come to their rescue.
All efforts to speak with the electricity company proved abortive, as their officials at Oke Omiru along Oshogbo Road, Ilesha refused to make any comment on the matter.