Lawyer petitions IBEDC over months of darkness in Ibadan community 

An Ibadan-based lawyer, Kazeem Oladepo, has petitioned the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) over months of power outage in the Apete community.

DAILY POST gathered that Apete is a large area in Ido Local Government Area, which has more than fifty communities.

Our correspondent learnt that Apete has been experiencing a power outage for the last few weeks.

Oladepo, who is a member of one of the communities in Apete, has, however, written a “save our soul” message to IBEDC.

Oladepo, in the petition made available to DAILY POST on Monday, said that the power outage has posed security challenges for the affected communities.

He said that all efforts made by the affected communities to restore electricity have proved abortive.

He called on IBEDC to restore electricity to the affected communities without wasting more time.

Oladepo, in the letter, also called on all political office holders that cover the affected communities to rise up and save the situation.

Oladepo, while speaking further, maintained that Apete is a student-populated community.

He added that persistent power outage in this community would amount to a major obstacle to the government’s efforts in achieving sustainable, sound education.

Oladepo said, “Can anybody in Nigeria today tell the whole public, most especially the inhabitants of Apete community, what is the common sin(s) committed by Apete community in Ido Local Government of Oyo State? Only if I have not lost my counting, it is more than one month now that the Apete community has not been given light. All efforts towards redeeming this ugly situation by members of the community have been futile.

“As I can vividly remember, members of the community once staged a peaceful rally. The community leaders have also reported the matter to one of the popular radio stations in Ibadan. Notwithstanding, I am grossly unhappy to report that despite all their efforts, provision of electricity in Apete community remains a mirage.

“Thinking aloud, what have been the responsibilities of all the councillors representing this community towards solving this problem? What are the efforts of the present Ido Local Government Chairman? The State House of Assembly member representing Ido State Constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly? National Assembly members and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, are they acting in consonance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution they all swore to protect and preserve?

“By now, I cannot imagine any serious politician coming to this community when the election is around the corner and promising some flamboyant, unfulfilled projects. This special appeal is hereby placed at the doorsteps of IBEDC (the officially recognized electricity provider in Oyo State), all our political leaders in Ido Constituency, other relevant stakeholders in this regard, and our ever-performing Oyo State Governor, Engr. Oluwaseyi Makinde, thanks once again for the rehabilitation of Apete-Awotan-Akufo Road.

“Kindly take note that Apete community is a student-populated community, where The Polytechnic, Ibadan, now belonging to the Oyo State Government, is located since 1971. The electricity challenges in this community would amount to a major obstacle in the government’s efforts to achieve sustainable, sound education. To this end, let all the concerned people, as identified above, come together and ‘let there be light’ in Apete community with immediate effect.”