By Akin Kuponiyi
Ijeshaland comprising six local council areas in Osun State, south west Nigeria and two major towns Okemesi-Ekiti and Efon alaye in Ekiti state have been plunged into darkness by Ibadan Electricity distribution company(IBEDC).
According to a prominent Ijesha indegene, what triggered this alleged “callous action” started last Monday when some youths in some part of Ilesha town, the headquarters of the Ijeshas protested the arbitrary and bogus bills they were mandated to pay despite epileptic power supply. The company did not like the way the protest was done.
The officials of Ibadan Electricity distribution company were irked,by what they termed the audacity and affront of the youth to protest the alleged injustice.
Thus, the company 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 protest 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 Efon Alaye occupied by Ijeshas in Ekiti State.
Since the light was cut off in these communities,all business activities have been paralyzed.
No one wants to make any comment on the issue ,especially the traditional rulers.
The Governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola hails from Ilesha.
All effort to speak with the Electricity company proved abortive,as none of their official at Oke Omiru along Oshogbo road Ilesha agreed to make any comment.
Kuponiyi can be reached at: serekode@yaoo.com