Jacob Ogodo, Abakaliki
The member representing Afikpo North/South federal constituency, Ebonyi state in the House of Representatives, Hon. Iduma Igariwey has slammed N100million suit against Enugu Electricity Distribution Company(EEDC) for refusing to provide power for the constituency.
Igariway however regretted that the suit has suffered setback because the Judge handling the matter was on election duty and vowed that he would pursue the case to its logical conclusion.
Hon. Igariwey spoke in Ukpa, Afikpo, Afikpo North local government of the state while briefing his constituents on his achievements.
He said that there has been total blackout in the constituency especially Afikpo for over five years now.
The Lawmaker said he has spent millions of naira on diesel to be powering his electricity generating plant following non-power supply in the constituency by the EEDC and that he has gathered all the receipts for the diesel which he will tender before the court as exhibit.
He explained that he has provided electricity transformer to some communities in the constituency and implored EEDC to be alive to its responsibilities.
He described the power company as incompetent and wondered why the federal government has refused to revoke its license.
He said, “As I speak now, I and EEDC are in court. The case has suffered setback because the judge was on election duty in Port-Harcourt. Because at a time, I even had to sue them for N100milion for certain deprivations I have suffered from them. I want our people to know that electricity is privatized, it was privatized in 2005. So, the issue of power in Nigeria has been privatized.
“The first people to hold responsible for power problems are the Distribution Companies(DISCO), they are the distribution agencies. In this our case, the company we must ask questions about this power of a thing is the EEDC. I took up their issue at the floor of Parliament through a petition that was written against them and they have been invited for more than ten times, I have sponsored those trips privately for them to come and explain a whole lot of things.
“It is now very clear to everybody that EEDC which was given the mandate to be supplying power to Afikpo people and entire south east are not up to their job. The commonest example is three days ago when heavy windstorm occurred. In that windstorm many electricity poles fell down; you will see a lot of them when you are going to Mgbom, Uwnanna.
“Many poles are lying on the ground as we speak and nothing has been done by EEDC to carry them up. No responsible organization or even individual will allow its things scattered on the ground without putting them in order. That thing is a fundamental testimonial of the capacity or lack of it of the power service providers in the south east, they are very inefficient. We blame them, we also blame the federal government because it is allowing them to hold the licences.”
On insecurity in south east, the former local government Chairman urged the people to be vigilant and security conscious.
He urged government at all levels to beef up security to prevent further breakdown of law and order.