Bringing Power Back to Ibadan Communities
writes that after 15 years of total blackout, Ibadan residents celebrate the return of electricity when 16 of its communities were reconnected to the national power grid with the resuscitation of a moribund electrification project
Akanran, Iyana Olubode, Osun Aro, Origbo, Orelope, Idi Obi, Kure, Lanlehin, Owonran, Alagba, Akanran, Olubokun, Ori Okiti, Aro Meta, Olorunda and Jigan are communities in Ona Ara local government area of Oyo State. One thing that these 16 communities along with other 46 communities in the local government have in common is that they have been without electricity for the past 15 years.
Thus, it was a moment of great excitement on Friday, January 18, when the communities were reconnected to the national power grid with the resuscitation of a moribund electrification project initiated by the communities many years ago.
The electricity restoration to the area with the commissioning of a transformer and Akanran-Amuloko electrification project was through the intervention of a prominent son of the area, Engineer Dotun Sanusi, the Chairman and Chief Executive of Ilaji Stadium and Resort Centre.
To mark the inauguration, the Chairman of the local government, Mr. Buliaminu Aderemi Ogundele and the Alakanran of Akanran, Oba Oladipo Obisesan, led Baales, chiefs and large numbers of inhabitants as well as members of social and trade associations in the communities to thronged the Akanran Health Centre, Akanran, the headquarters of the local government.
Other dignitaries present at the epoch making occasion include Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State represented by a member of the House of Representatives representing Irepo/Orelope/Olorunsogo Federal Constituency, Hon. Bosun Oladele; the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Bimbo Kolade represented by a director in the ministry, Mr. Oyetunji Okanlawon; wife of the facilitator, Chief (Mrs.) Joyce Sanusi and a former Commissioner for Education in the state, Mrs. Tokunbo Fayokun.
The council chairman said the affected communities made futile efforts to get well-to-do sons and daughters of the local government to assist in resolving the power problem before contacting Sanusi, who accepted to sponsor the electrification project.
He described his philanthropy as legendary, stating that he had brought “unprecedented all-round development” to the local government which, he noted, had been stagnant for many years.
Ogundele also lauded Sanusi for his philanthropic gesture to his community, charging other indigenes to emulate him. According to him, the commissioning was a moment of joy for not only the areas affected but the entire local government, stating that with electricity restored development will not be far.
He said: "My profound gratitude goes to the Almighty God for preserving us to be part of the moving train that is bringing development back to our dear local government, one of which is the restoration of electricity back to some communities within Ona-Ara local government and Akanran community to be specific after 15 solid years of total blackout.
"I am greatly delighted to commend one of the illustrious sons of the soil, a lover of progress and a friend of the local government, Engineer Dotun Sanusi, for all his efforts at restoring life back to the local government and making today a reality. Engineer Dotun Sanusi has been of tremendous assistance to the local government and the entire people of Ona-Ara now and in the time past. What we are witnessing today is one of the giant strides of Engineer Dotun Sanusi at making Akanran a model and better place of abode to all and sundry.
"On behalf of the entire people of OnaAra local government, I wish to once again express our sincere appreciation to Engineer Sanusi. It is our prayer that the Almighty God would continue to enlarge and prosper him on all sides. Let me use this opportunity to appeal to all illustrious sons, daughters and friends of Ona-Ara local government both at home and in Disapora to emulate Engineer Sanusi in bringing about meaningful development to the local government area. The management of the local government is ready to collaborate with whosoever has projects for the benefit of our people.
"Furthermore, I want to enjoin the people of Ona-Ara local government to make maximum use of the restored electricity in their businesses thereby boosting the economy of the local government area. This address would not be complete without appreciating our royal fathers, the Alakanran of Akanran, Baales and Chiefs for their contributions to the development of the local government."
On his part, the facilitator of the restoration of electricity, Engineer Sanusi described what has been happening in the local government as “God-in-action” and a tip of the iceberg in relation to subsequent developmental projects which would be carried out. He lauded the people of the area for their determination to halt backwardness and work for the development of the area, noting that with the unity existing among them, further growth and development are assured.
Sanusi said he would continue to make his resources available for the development of his community, stating that the local government has become a model for other local governments in the state. He maintained that his intervention to restore electricity to the area was part of his civic social responsibility to his root, noting that he is nobody without his people.
He said: "I cannot but be in the forefront of what we are witnessing today because this is my root. I am always proud to be from this area, and as long as I am alive, I would continue to contribute my quota not only to the development of Akanran but the entire local government as a whole."
While lauding the committee saddled with the restoration of electricity to the area for a job well done, he charged every indigene of the local government to be committed to its development, stating that the community can now be accessed through the internet courtesy of another son of the area. He disclosed that his football team has continued to do the local government proud by winning various laurels, stating that the team was founded to keep the youths busy and take them out of the street.
He said, "Whatever we are celebrating is not about me but through our collective efforts, I must specially thank members of the restoration committee for giving their time and resources for the development of our area. With our collective efforts, the sky is the limit for our local government such that the council will continue to develop rapidly. It is my prayer that the local government area very soon will be a source of pride to all of us."
Sanusi then lauded the council chairman, Hon. Ogundele, for always engaging himself in what would bring development to the local government and succour to the people. According to him, since his assumption of office early last year, the local government boss has continued to engage in programmes that will change the fortune of the area such that indigenes now see themselves as part of development of the council.
Another community leader, Chief Folorunso Ogunnaike, lauded both Ogundele and Sanusi, stating that the two men are doing wonders because of their humility and sense of responsibility to serve the interest of all. While enjoining all to emulate the kind gesture of Sanusi who he said has contributed immensely to the development of the area, he stated that having wealth is meaningless without it been used for the benefit of the less privileged in the society.
"We must all commend Engineer Sanusi for the great feat he has done to restore electricity to our area that we are celebrating today. A lesson that we must learn from this is that we must endeavour to use our wealth for the people. It is quite unfortunate that most of those who are well to do would not give to those who do not have," he noted.
A member of the restoration of electricity committee, Mr. Abiola Mayowa, said the people of the 62 communities would for ever be grateful for Sanusi for coming to their aid to restore electricity after 15 years of total blackout. According to him, attempts were made to get assistance from government and politicians all to no avail, stating that it was last August that they succeeded in getting across to Sanusi through the local government chairman. He lamented that the communities had suffered untold hardship without electricity, stating that the blackout made lives unbearable for the residents of the affected communities.
Mayowa who is the Vice Chairman, Lanlehin Community, disclosed that Sanusi committed over N40million to the project, stating that apart from providing transformers he also bought over 240 poles with wire. He added that it was the day that they got in touch with Sanusi that he promised them that he would help in finding solution to their request, charging other wealthy individuals to emulate him and contribute their quota to the development of the area.
He said, "The entire 62 communities cannot but be grateful to our benefactor, Engineer Dotun Sanusi who through his benevolence has brought light to us. What was unique about the whole thing was that it was the day that we presented our request to him that he gave us his words to help. He is a great son that do not blink an eye to come to the aid of his people no matter the cost, indeed the development that he has brought to the entire local government is unquantifiable."
While appealing to others to emulate, Mayowa said not less than six 500 KVA transformers are still needed for all the communities to have electricity, stating that with the commissioning of the restoration of Akanran-Amuloko rural electricity, communities that will benefit include Akanran, Alagba, Owonran and Lanlehin.
Also speaking at the event, Mr. Tijani Muhideen, Chairman, Olubokun Community, lamented over what the communities have lost in the last 15 years, stating that most of the people who want to establish small scale industry in the area could not do so because of no electricity. He lauded Sanusi for his contributions to the development of the area in terms of establishment of farms, resort centre and stadium which have made the area a beehive of activities.
His words, "The loses suffered by not less than 400,000 people affected by the total blackout of the last 15 years cannot be quantified. Thus today's event is nothing but a big relief to the people most of whose business has been affected one or the other by the blackout. I can only appeal to our other brothers and sisters to emulate Engineer Sanusi and help with provision of transformers so that all the communities will have electricity."