Life can be unbearable, miserable, and in denial when the government fails in its obligation to provide basic social amenities for its citizens, especially regional and rural dwellers whose means of livelihood are interdependent on the availability of functioning social systems commissioned to provide a good road network, portable water supply, electricity, security, and basic education.
The servicing of inclusive and functioning social structures is a far cry in Nigeria as communities live with the realities of having to substitute collective social needs given the failure of the government to meet its promises.
Among these amenities, electricity, and power have been strongly tied to socioeconomic development and productivity. Yet, only 55.4% of Nigerians have access to electricity. This means that about 85 million Nigerians spread across different states do not have access to electricity.
The local population of Gboyin LGA in Ekiti state is among the marginalized demographic of Nigerians whose livelihoods have been hampered due 13 years long absence of electricity in the entire local government leaving residents to decorate their homes with lightless bulbs and other electrical devices that may never be used.
Despite the privatization of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), the story continues to change from bad to worse, leaving Gboyin’s residents with no choice but to make use of alternative sources of power to facilitate their daily activities.
The poor performance of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC has caused over thirteen years of total blackout in the Gboyin local Government and equally given rise to low productivity and less infrastructural development.
Gboyin local government of Ekiti State comprises (Omuo-Ekiti, Isinbode-Ekiti, Elo-Ekiti, Egbe-Ekiti, Ide-Ekiti, Imisi-Ekiti, Iran-Ekiti, Agbado-Ekiti, Aisegba-Ekiti, Ilumoba-Ekiti and part of Ise-Ekiti)
Having had a series of changes in the government of Ekiti state; from Governor Kayode Fayemi, Governor Ayodele Fayose to the incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi, the entire local government of Gboyin residents remains in darkness despite the agitation of Hon. Femi Bamisele gathered by Tribune.
“The House is worried that residents of Communities in the Local Government Areas are denied benefits associated with electricity supply by the failure of the Distribution Company to supply and distribute electricity to the residents and if nothing is done, they will continue to live in darkness with attendant security and socio-economic consequences.”
It is observed that Gbonyin Local Government Area consists of seven towns namely; Ode-Ekiti, Agbado, Imbesi, Egbejlro, Aiyeseba, Iluomoba, and Iran while Ekiti-East Local Government Area has eleven (11) towns namely; Omuo, Kota, Omuooke, Ayegunle, Araromi, Igbesi, Araromi Oke, Ikun Oba, Ilasa, Eda lIe, Isinbode, and Isaya Ekiti.
“The House is concerned that for over eight years, towns and villages in Gbonyin and Ekiti–East Local Government Areas have been living. in darkness, as residents do not get electricity supply from BEDC, thereby bringing economic activities, family, and social lives to a standstill with attendant consequences to the economic well-being, prosperity, and health of residents as private individuals and corporate citizens transacting business in the areas are compelled to be buying diesel and fuel at exorbitant prices to power generators”.
In a phone conversation with Mr. Olufemi Ojo, a policeman who is a native of Ayesegba Ekiti Gboyin local government lamented over the wreck the electricity has caused the town.
“The last time we had light in Ayesegba was 2009. In Gboyin local government generally, we have prominent people in the local government area and they are close to the government but still, nothing has been done, I don’t know if they’re still working on it though.
“There was a time we had a speaker from Ayesegba at some point and I was so happy thinking. he will fix the light but nothing is still been done.
“Election takes place in the area, yet there’s no electricity. Companies don’t even have access to the communities.
“At the level of development in most areas, they’re still using lamps in Gboyin, all the communities under the local government from Isinbode-Ekiti, Elo, Egbe-Ekiti, Ode, Imisi, Ijon, Agbada, Ayesegba, Ilumomo and part of Ise, have no traces of electricity.”
Mr. Olufemi Ojo laments about the whole Electricity issue as it affected him. In his words, “The painful path of this total blackout is a child of 13 years old have not seen electricity or light in the bulb in his/her story come to imagine what you think the child will say how to feel.
“Another experience or feeling is the youth of this local government are not willing to come home due to the total blackout where one cannot enjoy nor watch television only those with generators, but if the generator fails or has a fault what’s the hope?
“The economic downfall has led to low development. A lot of small businesses have crashed out while some seat on loss over the cost of a deal to run the business.
“I’m a policeman handicapped in this community how much is the salary to purchase solar, an external power supply however if I have the ability what about those who cannot afford it?
“People are running away from the local government, assuming a corps member from Lagos State has been deployed down here, what will be his/her faith from heaven to hell?
“The communities/Local government tried her best. We met with the state governor but all ended in fake promises; the canvass, and the campaign but nothing yet.
“All our wire is damaged yet, a few months ago BEDC workers came to collect their monthly due which dissolved to protest among the youths but I and some elders consoled and begged the youth.
“The fact remains people live in hardship, we are in another world.”
Electricity is one of the primary needs of a citizen to facilitate her domestic activities and gear the awareness of infrastructural development in the community in terms of localization of industries and firms.
Gboyin local government continues to weep in darkness over the nonchalance of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), leaving the community in a hopeless fate, which gives rise to the high cost of living and lack of availability of frozen foods for daily consumption of the citizen in the community.
Life becomes miserable for people who live in the community, especially for the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC members who come from a settlement where electricity is available, or asthmatic patients who need to stay off from the heat.
The entire community of Gboyin local government is faced with a rhetorical question: When will the light be restored?
