Ikire and Its Dead Power Supply – A Major Concern and a Slap in the Faces of the Well-Meaning Sons and Daughters of Ikire

By Adeniyi Afeez Taiwo (Orimeji)

24-06-2024

Growing up, Ikire was a beautiful town—one I believed was ahead of many others in terms of development. Or so I patriotically thought. But adulthood has taught me a different lesson: that true patriotism is not about blind loyalty or emotional pride. Patriotism means asking the hard questions, demanding answers, pressing until it hurts just like a good doctor would. It means speaking truth to power and challenging the status quo, and that is exactly what I intend to do with this piece.

Power supply is undeniably one of the most essential social amenities. Its presence can elevate a town’s economy and improve the quality of life for its residents. Its absence, however, causes untold hardship and that is the tragedy we face in Ikire today. Take, for instance, the once-thriving Kingstine Joe Restaurant and Bar now a shadow of itself due to the unreliable electricity supply until it is revamp by another enterprise, how sure are we that they won't suffer same fate as people before them?. Many businesses have packed up and left Ikire for the same reason. Another example is the yoghurt distribution company that relocated to the Koteyeemu area because it was promised a consistent “direct” power supply. Unfortunately, within a few days of their arrival, they were met with the same old tale of epileptic power. They didn’t just complain they vanished entirely.

Let’s be clear, Ikire does not suffer from epileptic power supply. What we have is a dead power supply. Or what do you call a situation where electricity is available for only 3 to 4 days out of 30? Sadly, many residents have accepted this as the norm. But it is not normal. It is shameful. What’s worse is knowing that other towns less developed, smaller in population enjoy stable power supply. So what exactly is Ikire’s excuse? Is our transformer on life support? Is the national grid allergic to us? Is the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) playing hide-and-seek?

In my quest for answers, I spoke with a staff member of IBEDC in Ikire. He blamed the power crisis on the privatization of electricity and claimed that Ikire residents do not pay their bills regularly. I asked him: Is it that people don’t pay because there is no light, or is it that there is no light because people don’t pay? It’s the classic chicken-and-egg scenario. But whichever it is, we are tired of the excuses. What we need now is accountability, not apologies; action, not empty explanations.

The first step is to start asking questions and to direct those questions to the right quarters. Ikire has many illustrious sons and daughters who have the power and influence to intervene. The Ikire Progressive Union (IPU), as a matter of urgency, must convene a meeting with the head of the IBEDC Ikire branch, and escalate to their headquarters if necessary. This issue demands immediate attention, not another round of eloquent yet ineffective write-ups. We need results.

This is not just a power failure it is a failure of leadership, of policy, and of accountability.

But the silver lining is that Ikire is not a powerless town it is simply a town denied power. And it’s high time we stop pretending this issue doesn’t affect us. It does. Deeply.

Additionally, I believe it’s time we redirect our collective energy toward solving this dead power supply crisis in Ikire. Let’s make it a community project with concrete timelines and progress. Enough of endlessly beautifying and overdressing one particular building that has sat unfinished for over a decade without definite completion. And to the yearly Committee of Ikire Day, I say: let this power problem be your central agenda for once. Use the platform to demand answers, and drive change.

Eni to fẹ́ Ikire yóò ṣe rere.

Cc;

Akire in palace.

Ikire Progressive Union (IPU)

IBEDC ikire branch

IBEDC headquarters

All Concerned Ikire indigenes.