Residents of about 40 communities in Osogbo, Osun State, have rejected allegations made by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC, concerning their recent protest over poor electricity supply.
The communities insisted that the demonstration was peaceful and lawful.
The communities, operating under the umbrella of the United Communities, made their position known on Thursday while addressing journalists at the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo, where they accused the electricity distribution company of intimidation and misinformation.
According to the group, residents had earlier staged a peaceful protest and issued a seven-day ultimatum to IBEDC to restore consistent electricity supply to their areas or face further action.
Speaking on behalf of the communities, Dr Nasiru Mohammed read a statement jointly signed by the chairman of the group, Sulaiman Buruji, noting that the ultimatum had expired without any improvement in electricity supply.
“Today marks the expiration of that seven-day ultimatum. Sadly, instead of improvement, the situation has deteriorated further,” Mohammed said.
He added that many residents across the affected communities had received less than nine hours of electricity in total within the seven-day period following the protest.
“In many areas across the affected communities, residents have received less than nine hours of electricity throughout the entire seven-day period,” he said.
The communities further alleged that rather than addressing the power situation, IBEDC submitted a petition to the Department of State Services in Osun State accusing protesters of harassment and violence.
“We have reliable information that IBEDC has petitioned the DSS, alleging that the protest organised by our communities was violent and that their staff were harassed,” Mohammed said.
He, however, strongly rejected the claims, maintaining that the protest was orderly and conducted under police supervision.
“We wish to state clearly, unequivocally, and without reservation that this allegation is false. The protest organised by the United Communities was peaceful, disciplined and lawful,” he said.
Mohammed explained that officers of the Nigeria Police Force escorted the protesters throughout the demonstration, ensuring that there was no violence or destruction of property.
“At no point was there violence, harassment, or destruction of property during the exercise,” he stated.
The communities also reiterated their demand to be returned to Band A electricity supply, which guarantees longer hours of power distribution to customers.
Meanwhile, officials of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC, had earlier met with civil society organisations, security agencies and community leaders in Osogbo to explain the challenges affecting electricity supply in the state.
The company’s Lead Media Relations officer, Daniel Adugbo, said the decline in electricity supply was linked to reduced gas supply to power generating companies across the country.
“What is happening is a national issue. There are constraints in gas production, and most power plants depend on gas to generate electricity,” Adugbo explained.
He added that the reduction in electricity generation had forced the company to ration the limited supply it receives from the national grid through load shedding across its coverage areas.
