Why Ex-Power Minister, Adelabu Failed To Proffer Solutions To Power Sector

By Raphael Oni

An Osun based media practitioner and publisher of Oriotimes, Comrade Abioye Lawrence, says Adebayo Adelabu did not improve Nigeria’s power supply while serving as Minister of Power, insisting that the sector needs a miracle to bounce back.

Speaking on City Mirror TV’s “Issues that Matter” programme on Thursday, Abioye said Adelabu left office without delivering clear results in a sector that directly affects the daily lives and livelihoods of Nigerians. 

He argued that the former minister should have stepped down earlier, rather than waiting until he decided to pursue his governorship ambition.

“Electricity is very essential, and when there is no light, it affects everything, businesses, security, and daily living. Nigerians are still facing the same challenges,” he said.

Abioye noted that many Nigerians did not experience any meaningful improvement in power supply during Adelabu’s time in office, adding that repeated grid collapses and outages became the common explanation without visible, lasting solutions. According to him, citizens were left with excuses instead of accountability.

He, however, said the problem in the power sector goes beyond one individual, stressing that deeper structural issues, especially in transmission, distribution, and infrastructure, must be addressed. 

He called for a complete overhaul of the sector to achieve real and sustainable results.

“Pronouncement is different from practicality. Cost is the difference,” he added. 

“If a miracle worker is brought to pilot the Ministry of Power, we may still face the same issues. The issue of erratic power supply has become something the government doesn’t want to fix,” Comrade Abioye stated.

Abioye further stated that even with a different person in charge, the same challenges may persist if the system itself is not fixed, warning that the continued instability suggests a lack of serious commitment to resolving the crisis.

On Adelabu’s governorship ambition, Abioye said his performance at the national level could influence how voters perceive him, noting that many may question his ability to deliver at the state level based on his record in the power sector.

“You can’t fail in national affairs and expect people to believe your assurances at the state level,” he said.

He, however, added that performance at the federal level does not automatically determine success at the state level, explaining that outcomes could depend on the quality of leadership and the team assembled.

Abioye urged Nigerians to remain actively engaged and to demand accountability from leaders, stressing that the country’s electricity challenges require urgent, practical solutions and should not be treated as a normal situation.