National Grid transformer that was disconnected
Ifere Paul|17 October 2016
Barely a week after they all trooped to Calabar to support their illustrious son, the governor of Cross River State, Senator Governor Ben Ayade in his welcome back from Abuja tour, the traditional rulers of Obudu Urban, are prepared to return back to Calabar.
This time, it is not an induced money changed hands welcome party at the airport. It is to protest the governor's negligence to the plights of Obudu people. It is on record that Governor Ben Ayade had last year promised to provide stable electricity for the people of Obudu and their environs.
The governor had then established an integrated power plant run by generators to supply electricity to Obudu people. The generators were distributed at strategic point around the town to enhance the distribution of light through the generators. But then, the governor had already disconnected the whole Obudu Urban town from the National Grid before connecting them to the integrated power plants.
After a month use of the electricity of the integrated power plant, a bill of 7 Thousand Naira was shared to household, and 12-14 Thousand Naira to business premises such as Hair Salons, Barbers Shop, Drinking and Pepper Joints, and other smaller businesses. Hotels and bigger restaurants were mandated to pay between 20-40 Thousand Naira as bills per months.
The management of the integrated power plant distribution company said that the monies was of the people's contribution to buy diesel to run the plants. Some households and businesses paid while a larger percentage of families and businesses opted out. The integrated power plant company set up by Ayade then disconnected them from the distribution of the integrated power plant, but without a reconnection to the National Grid.
Today, the whole Obudu Urban has opted out from the integrated power plant as a result of exorbitant and exploitative billings. The integrated power company is out of business except for the single generator supplying light to the governor's resident in Obudu. Those who lives in the governor's house do not enjoy 24/7 electricity as was promised to the whole town before the integrated power plant started.
Therefore, the Obudu Urban traditional council rulers are to go to Calabar to protest to the governor for such inhuman treatment meted out to them and their families, and in extension, the whole Obudu Urban town.
According to one person familiar with the story, "the traditional rulers are angry that business activities are slow as a result of no light during the night. And that other businesses that muscle out to run through their own generators are doing so by increasing their prices."
Whether the traditional rulers will carry placards and demonstrate on the streets in Calabar, the source said he does not know. "And it will be a taboo for traditional rulers to carry placards against the governor they all galvanized support for a forthnight ago."
"It is quite unfortunate that most of the businesses that made Obudu lively, are now relocating to Ogoja or Vandakiya in Benue State", the source concluded."
Ifere Paul
Is a Public Policy Analyst
