Community leader exposes APC’s sponsored hatchet report on Ewohimi electricity project
By George Etakibuebu
A community leader in Ewohimi, Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State, Hon. Oseghale Ernest, of Ikhekhe quarters, Oghu Ewohimi, who is familiar with the electricity project in the area, has debunked the many lies contained in a recent report by an online outfit, Chris Osa media.
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The report which was in the form of a vox pop by Osa as the anchor, featured three selected people who denied the widely acknowledged efforts of Dr Asue Ighodalo, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the September election in getting electricity to the community.
The three respondents had claimed that Ewohimi never had electricity at any time, and that any claim by anyone to have facilitated electricity to the community was false.
But reacting to the report allegedly sponsored by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) to score cheap political point, the community leader said “I wanted to keep mute over the video in respect of Ewohimi electricity but for the benefit of those who the unfounded and baseless allegations in the video might mislead, I want to put the records straight.”
Oseghale narrated that “Ewohimi started their electrification project in 1991 through the first Chairman of Esan South East LGA, Hon. Benjamin Omole. He supplied wooden poles which was reigning as at that time and were kept in the Palace before they were gutted by fire.
“In 2000, Barr. Asue Ighodalo went to the then minister of Power and Steel Development, Chief. Bola Ige of blessed memory, his maternal uncle, appealed to him to use his good office to provide electricity for Ewohimi (his home town). After several appeals, the request was granted and the electrification project was contracted to COMDAVIS (Nig) Ltd in 2000.
“The former state chairman of PDP, Prince Solomon Aguele, the late Hon. D.E. Amiebenomon, Dr. Israel Aguele, my humble self (Hon. Oseghale Ernest), Hon. Brins Egbedi and Hon. Julius Safali were in charge of the supervision of the project on behalf of Ewohimi Community because we were the only political office holders at that time. The light eventually came up in 2002.”
He added that “Suffice to say that the light was epileptic because it was connected from Ubiaja which was a very long distance. In 2008, Ewohimi people opted to move their connection from Ubiaja to Ekpon because of the epileptic supply from the Ubiaja line. Our neighbouring town ( Ewatto) is still on that line till today, hence, their electricity supply stopped so many years ago.
“Hon. Andrew Ojietokhamhen, who was the chairman of our local government, helped in facilitating the changeover to Ekpon line. We were enjoying constant supply of electricity with outrageous bills from estimated bills. Our woes started when we went to our son who was the chairman of the local government at that time, Hon. Andrew Akhabue, to help us purchase bulk prepaid metres. He told us the disadvantage of using prepaid bulk meters because according to him, he once worked with NEPA, yet, we remained adamant and still pressured him to buy them for us.
“He purchased them and installed them in the transformers in the various communities. The prepaid metres were just adding salt to injury.
“The various communities were asked to manage their prepaid bulk metres. I was one of those nominated to manage the one at Oghu. At the end of the month, myself and BEDC staff used to take the readings. The price from the metre readings was too outrageous and that made Ewohimi run into a big debt of about one hundred and forty million Naira (140,000,000) and BEDC eventually disconnected the electricity supply to Ewohimi.”
Continuing, he said “Barr. Asue Ighodalo and other prominent sons and daughters in their usual magnanimity helped to offset part of that huge debt and light was restored in 2018. Ewohimi again requested for a rechargeable prepaid bulk meter, which was also granted to us. The light was only constant to those that recharged. As for my community , Oghu, we recharged times without numbers and we enjoyed constant supply of electricity during that period.
“Unfortunately, we could not sustain it. Hence, we were plunged into darkness. It is only Eguare that has not enjoyed this light for years because their transformer was vandalised. Again, our sons and daughters led by Barr. Asue Ighodalo came to our rescue by replacing the damaged poles and recharged for all the transformers with a heavy amount of money excluding the Eguare transformer and the supply of electricity came back to Ewohimi last year (2023). Our joy was short lived in January 2024 when some cross bars in the electricity poles were burnt by an inferno.”
Giving major credit to Ighodalo, he said “It will interest you to know that our Godsend political messiah, Barr. Asue Ighodalo has just started the process of replacing those burnt down cross bars and other repairs to facilitate the restoration of our electricity. He started from Iselu junction at Ewohimi to Ekpon (phase one) and the phase 2 will be from Ekpon through Ewossa, Ebelle to Igueben. Kudos to the man wey sabi.”
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In conclusion he said, “From my analysis, you can see why there is no electricity supply in Ewohimi presently. For the old woman and the children in the video to say that they have not gotten light for the past sixteen years, is a fabricated lie from the pit of hell. I refer you to the Palace of Ewohimi to authenticate my claims and also from the following first class chiefs in Ewohimi Kingdom for more verifications: Chief Oliha, Chief Iyasele, Chief Edohe, Chief Ezomon, Chief Idogu, Chief Esongban and Prince Solomon Aguele to mention but a few. Try to verify to know the authenticity of my story in order for you not to be deceived by those inept, corrupt, selfish and APC propagandists.”
