'IBEDC Must Go': Masquerades, Youths Protest Over Electricity Bills Hike in Kwara, Vow to Continue Protest Until Their Demands Are Addressed
Israel Adeleke
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that the youths in Omu-Aran, Irepodun local government area of Kwara, led by two of the community masquerades, on Friday, protested alleged outrageous billing and sudden movement of the community’s electricity billing regime from Band C to Band A.
OTN News further reports that the protesters, who gathered at Bareke roundabout in the metropolis as early as 8:00 am, carried placards with various inscriptions amid dancing and singing of war songs.
OTN News observes that some of the inscriptions on the placards read: ‘IBEDC Must Go,’ ‘Omu-Aran Say No to Band A,’ ‘Bring us Back to Band C,’ ‘Revert Omu-Aran to Band C.’ ‘Omu-Aran Youths Have Spoken Loudly’, among others.
According to the youths, the sudden movement of the electricity billing from Band C to Band A was allegedly done by the newly posted Business Manager, Mr. A. O. Badmus, who was responsible for the outrageous bills received for the month of March in the community.
They noted that there were many unresolved challenges militating against uninterrupted electricity supply across designated areas of the community before the sudden movement of the billing regime from Band C to Band A.
OTN News further observes that the protesters, who were peaceful and orderly while the protest lasted, had rejected an attempt to be escorted by police personnel and some other security agencies.
The youths noted that the current charges on some of the electricity bills were between the range of N41,000 to N47,000 for the month of March as against the old rate of between N10,000 to N15,000.
The protest took the youths to major streets in the community and designated areas such as the Olomu market, Latinwo market Area, Olomu palace, as well as the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC)’s District office located inside Omu-Aran City Complex.
OTN News also Observes that the protesters blocked some major highways leading to neighbouring states including Omu-Aran-Kabba highway as well as Omu-Aran-Otun-Ekiti highway which forced motorists and travellers to wait for hours.
They vowed to continue with the protest until their demands and grievances were addressed by IBEDC and the community leaders.
According to a statement signed by the President Omu-Aran Development Association, Mr. Niyi Adeyeye, and the secretary, Elder Ranti Adebayo, some of our demands, included non-replacement of faulty transformers leading to irregular electricity supply in some key areas of the community.
Others are reversion of the billing from Band A to the previous Band C and improvement of electricity supply, suspension of Band A billings,, and review of the current charges to reflect the old billing regime.
Other demands included the conduction of an independent review of IBEDC service delivery in Omu-Aran to assess the appropriateness of the proper tariff regime classification, immediate stoppage of overdraft purchases on pre-paid meters as well as stoppage of electricity consumers purchasing materials for faulty electricity equipment.
Meanwhile, the Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Abdulraheem Oladele Adeoti, while receiving the protesters in his palace appealed for calm, saying that the community leaders are already in discussions with IBEDC officials to address the issues.
He urged the youths to exercise restraints and wait for the outcome of the intervention by the community leaders.
What's Your Reaction?
