Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State on Friday implored the management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to restore electricity to Ilesa and environs after one month outage.
Aregbesola made this appeal while playing host to the management team of IBEDC that was on a peace mission in his office in Osogbo.
Aregbesola, who described electricity as essential amenity in the society, said the role of power in promoting socio-economic activities in the society could not be overemphasised.
The governor expressed displeasure on the misunderstanding between the company and residents which eventually led to the disconnection of power supply to the town and its environs.
Aregbesola said that it was disheartening to hear that some officials of the company were allegedly assaulted during the course of their duties in Ilesa.
He expressed regret that some people believed that the only way to express their displeasures and resolve matters was by assaulting the company’s officials.
“This act must be condemned anywhere in the country because it is unreasonable for anyone to think that the only way to resolve issues is to fight,’’ he said.
Aregbesola appealed to IBEDC management to forget the sad event and reconcile with electricity consumers in the area in the interest of peace.
The Managing Director of IBEDC, Mr John Donnachie, commended Aregbesola for his prompt intervention in the crisis and promised that the company would restore electricity to the affected area.
Donnachie warned that the company would not tolerate any form of indiscipline from the public, irrespective of anybody’s position or rank in the society.
The IBEDC chief called on electricity consumers to always cooperate with the company and promised better services to them.
