By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde on Monday, disclosed his intention of seeing the state to be the first among the comity of states in the country to attain energy sufficiency.
Speaking at the commissioning of transformers and restoration of electricity at Idi Obi/ Jigan/ Kure/ Olorunda Ogunsola and environs donated by Engineer Dotun Sanusi.
He stressed that this remains his aspiration going by his personal professional experience as an electrical engineer and in the spirit of the new law that empowers the state government in the country to generate and distribute power.
” Of the New Electricity law in Nigeria, let me say this that, our aspiration is that in the comity of states in Nigeria, Oyo State will be the first state to attain energy sufficiency because your governor is an electrical engineer and that’s what I do”, he said.
Governor Makinde added, ” Today, it’s exactly one week that Omituntun 2.0 started and this is my first outing. Let me thank my people from Ona Ara, you are worthy. If you look at the result of election in 2023, we defeated the opposition by 24,000 voted. I am very grateful. This is an opportunity come back home and from the bottom of my heart to express our appreciation, myself and my deputy, for your support”.
” So, on behalf of everyone in the state, especially people of Ona Ara, we want to appreciate Engineer Dotun Sanusi for this work, for what you are doing in our local governments, in our communities and also in our state. We are proud of you”.
Stressing ” we are here to commission this gigantic project. It is not here alone that the transformer is, the one here is about 500KVA. Also in Idi-Obi around that place, there is another one there of about 300KVA”, the governor commended Engineer Sanusi for the donations among other gestures he is doing for the people of the state and that other people with resources and means in the state should impact the less privileged to take a cue from Engr Sanusi.
Faulting the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) for selling meters to the residents to generate income, the governor said IBEDC should see how they will allow the residents benefit from the investments in the infrastructures provided by Engr Sanusi in form of mild billings and electricity usage.
“ What is important is that, there are people of means, that have the money and resources. But, they will rather keep the resources for only themselves and their families.But Engineer Dotun Sanusi, not only that he installed transformers linking almost about 8 communities here and another five communities at the other side, but also the infrastructures, the cables, the poles and everything, he provided.
” What did we observe, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company came to install meters here to generate money from here. Well, we will not tell them that they will not collect money but they will tell us the money for the cables and poles installed here, how will they give people and allow them use it to pay discounted rates as bills so that we will recover that money that they didn’t spend”
He maintained, “Yes, they are the ones that will be collecting money in terms of electricity bills, but the good news is that, the law has changed. Now as Oyo state, we can get into electricity generation and distribution and we will get into it.”
Speaking at the commissioning, Engineer Dotun Sanusi commended Gov Makinde for his efforts at improving the state and that he usually makes engineers proud.
