ELECTRICITY: Protest in Ughelli over Benin DisCo’s poor performance

By ABIRHIRE THOMAS

There was serious protest in the ancient community of Ugelli, Delta State on Monday as aggrieved residents took to the streets to show their displeasure with the persistent failure of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to live up to the mandate of their franchise.

In all states captured within the Benin DisCo’s area of responsibility namely Ekiti, Ondo, Edo and Delta states, it is the same story of inability to perform because of which Ughelli people may have now overstayed their patience, hence the Monday’s protest that saw the gates of the company in the town shut.

The DEFENDER reports that it took the quick intervention of the Osolo of Isolo, Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo, recently, to calm the youths from embarking on similar protest to the NEPA office of the BDEC, over their failure to provide electricity leading to community economy collapse with social life running down.

On Monday, according to our Correspondent, a crowd of protesting women and children were seen with leaf branches in their hands as they danced and sang: “We no go gree o, we no go gree, BEDC una own don too much in Ughelli.”

The seriousness of the anti-BEDC was felt by its nature and gathering point, the same sensitive Ogor axis along the popular Otovwodo Garage from where both the community’s part of the unprecedented EndSARS protests of October 2020 that shook the nation to its brim and that of EndEFCC held in the past.

This attracted quick reactions of the Nigerian Army 181 Battalion Agbor and Delta State Police Command, who respectively deployed troops and security operatives, respectively, to the location to ensure no untold situation occurred.

The DEFENDER reports that Nigeria Police division in Ughelli led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), A’ Division and the Army Battalion, were already on their usual Show of Force over the rumours that some groups were planning to burn down filling stations in the Ughelli North Area of Delta State, for selling fuel at N500 per liter.

For this reason, Commissioner of Police Mohamed Ali Ari had instructed his officers and men in the Ughelli Area Command to go out in full force and stop whatever form of protest.

As the police Show of Force got going through the Ogor axis along the popular Otovwodo Garage, the DPO stopped the moving convoy, walked towards the crowd and ask what the problem was.

Responding to the police officer, a young man who introduced himself as the co-odinator of the various protesting groups namely Akpofure, Otobo, Olulu, Adonovwe and Oniomo, Mr John Akpore, supported by an aged man, Mr Migu Patrick.

He said that, “for over a year now BEDC Ughelli hardly gives us light but monthly bills are coming from the BEDC Ughelli office for them to pay for light that they don’t see.”

The ‘A’ Division DPO calmed them all down and advice them that next time they should organise themselves well by applying through the police to get escort to lead them for the kind of peaceful protest they embarked upon to the office of BEDC.

The protesting groups pressed forward that they must get to the BEDC Ughelli office, making the DPO asking them to select among them three women leaders and three men so as to join them to BEDC.

At the main gate that was on lock, the DPO walked in to tell the BEDC Ughelli authority what was happening.

On the DisCo’s premises with the DPO were Regional Officer, Mr. Martins Izuagie, and Engr Chris Ughwumiakpor, Business Head and Technical Operations officials.

By the approval of the protesters, one of them, Alfred Onajite, spoke on behalf of Otobo Street group, while Omansan Anthonia spoke for the people of Adonovwe Street and others from Ughelli main town.

On behalf of the company, the Regional Officer and Business Head Technical pleaded with the apparently angry protesters while promising that a meeting of the regional office management will be held to discuss how the people will begin to enjoy the services of BEDC.

The protesting groups thanked both the Nigeria Police and Nigeria Army for the roll they played by escorting them to the BEDC Ughelli Office for the protests not to be hijacked.