BY LAW IBITOYE
Residents of Oke Alaafia, Igirimo, Alaafiatayo Zone 3 and Alaafia Central Zone in Ado Ekiti have called on the Ekiti state Government to rescue them from total darkness.
The four communities made the call at a press conference held at IGIRIMO community in Ado Ekiti on Sunday.
Residents of the communities who trooped out in their large number carried placards with inscriptions like: GOV BAO SAVE US FROM TOTAL DARKNESS, WE ‘VE BEEN IN TOTAL DARKNESS FOR 6 MONTHS, OUR BUSINESSES, SOCIAL LIVES ‘ HAVE BEEN TERRIBLY AFFECTED, U ARE A LISTENING GOV…
Speaking on behalf of the four communities, the chairmen of Oke Alaafia and Igirimo Communities, Mr OluKayode Jegede and Mr Adebola Ayegbusi solicited for the intervention of the Ekiti state governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji to provide the communities with a new transformer. The duo explained that the four communities of about nine thousand residents have been in total darkness since October, 2024 when their transformer suddenly packed off, saying all efforts to repair it had proved abortive
While calling on the state governor whom the duo referred to as lovers of the masses and a listening governor, to put an end to their sufferings by providing them with a new transformer.They commended the governor for connecting several towns that have been in total blackout for decades to the national grid, adding that the governor had supplied transformers to several communities.
The duo were optimistic that Governor Oyebanji would wipe off their tears and light up their communities as soon as their cries get to him. They also called on the Senate leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele whose office is closer to the community to help them out from their predicament..
According to Mr OluKayode Jegede, a renowned journalist, the four communities have been using communal efforts to put in place infrastructures; when our transformer packed off, we were in total darkness, we tried all means to get the transformer working but the financial burden was too heavy for the communities to bear, that’s why we are appealing to Governor Oyebanji, the people’s oriented governor to come to our aid, we cannot not carry the load again. We know the loads of Ekiti state is much for him but he cannot overlook the population of these communities, he should free us from this darkness, we are not blind but we are in darkness”
He added that lack of electricity in the four communities had crippled the economy, social activities and lives have become unbearable for the residents, which had alienated the people from the progressive government of Oyebanji.
Speaking further, An appointee of the state governor, Mr Ade Adetola assured the gathering that though the governor may not be aware of the problem but being a compassionate governor and the Senate leader, Senator Opeyemi Michael Bamidele who always prioritized the welfare of the masses would do something on the transformer.
Also, Mr Tanimowo Temitope, the secretary of Alaafiatayo Zone 3 and others applauded Governor Oyebanji for his people’s oriented programmes which had turned Ekiti state around. They were optimistic that their day of jubilation had come.
Recounting their losses, Mrs Adeyemi Aderibigbe, who runs a restaurant and Mrs Odudele, a chemist said lack of electricity has crumbled their businesses, saying they find it difficult to make ends meet due to lack of patronage, adding that
they could not repay the loan they collected for their businesses. They called on the government to provide them with a new transformer.
While reiterating their unflinching support for the second term ambition of the governor, they said “We are in support of Governor Oyebanji and we shall continue to support him”
The faulty transformer has been repaired several times . It was donated by former governor Segun Oni in 2011 tagged
” IMOLE TI TAN 2011″ the 300KVA transformer had been off and on for years before it finally packed off around September last year.