By Ayan Ayanfeoluwa, Kolawole Moyinoluwa, Benjamin Obidare, Mutiat Ogunleye
Residents of the Okeoba community, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun state have lamented over the lack of electricity supply for the past year. This has also posed a challenge for students residing in the community.
Okeoba is a community housing six Community Development Areas (CDA) which include Peace CDA, Alaganda CDA, Oloritun CDA, Moboluwaduro CDA, Harmony CDA, and Alasiameje Sele CDA.
While speaking to reporters of the Union of Campus Journalists at Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic (UCJAAPOLY), landlord Mr. Osinubi Nathaniel pointed out that the community's transformer was disconnected from Odorasoyin, another area in Ijebu-Igbo due to the heavy load.
He mentioned that Adebutu Ladi, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial aspirant in the recently concluded Ogun gubernatorial election, donated a transformer earlier this year. However, it has yet to be activated due to financial constraints.
“ We were given a new transformer by honorable Adebutu Ladi popularly known as LADO, what remains is the cash that would be used in powering the new transformer which is about 7 million naira and the community was able to raise close to 5 million naira and they were able to install poles. Meetings were held among the six community development areas (CDA) on how the transformer will be powered.
“They also made IBDEC aware of the transformer given to them and how they are going to power it which they were told they would work on it. Till now no positive response has been received” He said.
The chairman of Peace CDA, Ayan Modupeola, who also spoke to UCJAAPOLY highlighted that financial difficulties have led to the delay of CDA’s contribution towards the agreed amount to activate the transformer. While narrating the community’s efforts made to restore power to the community, she said an appeal have been made to the state government.
“We have been to the headquarters of IBDEC, southwest Ibadan where we laid our complaint. We met the head of IBDEC for the whole southwest, Mrs. Regina who assured us that our case had been taken to the state. We also sought assistance from the government and they promised to commence assessments” Modupeola noted.
The absence of electricity in this community has posed a challenge for students at Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, preventing them from powering their gadgets and studying at night.
Speaking with Adeleye Ayomide, a student who resides in this community, he said “ I can’t read in the night, no place to charge my phone and other rechargeable gadgets. It has also affected the way I dress to school because I can't iron my clothes and dress corporate”
Bola Kazeem, the Chairman of Okeoba, also shared thoughts with UCJAAPOLY, expressing optimism that the electricity supply will be restored before the year ends.
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