Ijesa/IBEDC Feud: Osun Assembly To Assess Level Of Damage Done To Electrical Equipment In Ilesa

The Osun House of Assembly on Wednesday said it would join the assessment team of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to evaluate the level of damage done to IBEDC equipment and property in Ilesha, which resulted to cutting off of electricity supply to Ijeshaland.

Mr Najeem Salaam, the Speaker of Osun House of Assembly made this known during the sitting of the House Public Petition Committee, on how to get light restored back to Ijeshaland.

It will be recalled that electricity had been cut off from Ijeshaland and the area thrown into darkness after some irate youths from Bolorunduro in Ilesha beat up staff of IBDEC on Thursday and later distroyed their equipments and property.

Salaam said a committee from the Assembly would join the electricity distribution company to carry out the assesmnet after the Regional Manager of the company insisted that it was after assessment of damaged equipment and property that light can be restored back to the area.

The IBEDC Regional Manager, Mr Akin Ogunleye had explained to the lawmakers that electrical equipment, transformer and electricity feeders, that runs into millions of naira were damaged by irate youths who were protesting low supply of electricity to their area.

He said it is after the assessment of damaged equipment by an assessment team fom their headquarters in Ibadan, Oyo (in company of security agents) that a directive would be given on restoration of electricity back to Ijeshaland.

The speaker however appeal to the regional manager to first restore power back to Ijeshaland, as those that attacked their staff and damaged equipment were from one local government area and that the cutting off was affecting the whole of Ijeshaland which comprises of six local government areas.

Ogunbiyi, without making any definite promise, told the Speaker that electricity to suburbs of Ilesha (where equipment were not damaged) would be restored after assessment is carried out within 48 hours but equipments damaged in Ilesha had to be replaced or repaired before light can be restored to Ilesha.

He explained that the whole of Ijeshaland was in total blackout because two out of the three feeders supplying light to the area had been damaged and that it was also impossible to isolate the area where damages were done or turn off their electricity supply without affecting other areas on their feeders.

He said their company was into electricity business to make money and that they would restore light back to the affected areas as soon as possible but added that picture evidence of property and equipments damaged would cost millions of naira to repair or replace.

The Speaker, Najeem, however called the management of IBEDC, led by the regional manager, to meet him in his office for further deliberation on the matter.