– as protesting youths threaten to boycott 2019 elections
After almost a decade of power outage in Ondo South Senatorial District, Ondo State Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, on Tuesday, met with people of the area over the blackout, with a pledge to bring their suffering to an end.
The residents of the communities, during a Town Hall meeting with the governor, lamented alleged neglect by successive governments in the last ten years, saying the power outage has paralysed social and economic activities in all the towns and villages in the area.
The meeting held in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of the state, where Akeredolu met with different groups, including the youths, women and leaders of the various communities including the contractors handling the electricity project.
Coordinator of of the group, Bring Back Our Light, Mr Olumide Akinrinlola, reiterated that the youth of the area have resolved not to participate in the forthcoming 2019 general elections if the state government failed to restore light in the area.
He commended the state governor over his sensitivity to the plight of common man and called on the state governor to prevail on the management of Omotosho Power Plant to fulfil the local content agreement by giving power supply to the host community.
He said: “it is our decision to inform you that restoration of electricity to the four affected local governments should be prioritised above other projects of the government for our people in Ondo South.”
Akeredolu expressed his administration’s determination to restore power in the area and allayed the fears of the protesting youths that the outage in the area will be a thing of the past.
He appealed to the people to cooperate with the contractors that would handle the electrification projects, which he said will eventually put a permanent end to the more than ten years of blackout in the area.
“Let me appeal to the youths, I appreciate your concerns, because they are genuine. But I come to you with genuine intention to put a permanent end to the blackout.
I beg our fathers to appeal to the youths to let the contractors do their work and ensure that the timeline for the project is maintained,” Akeredolu pleaded.
Also speaking, the Deputy Governor, Hon Agboola Ajayi, described the Town Hall meeting as a unique opportunity that will put an end to the ten years’ suffering, urging the people of the area to cooperate with the contractors.
He said the projects formed part of the three layers intervention projects embarked upon by the Akeredolu administration, which include solar stands for homes and national grid extension by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company of Nigeria.
The Executive Director, Engineering and Technical Services, Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPC), Mr Ife Oyedele, commended the efforts of the Federal Government and the state government, which according to him had resulted in the mobilisation of contractors.
Nigerian Tribune
