Residents of Ireakari community in Ilisan Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State for the second time in two months on Saturday protested the 10-years old erratic power supply and the attendant hardship despite contributing over N11m to install a new transformer for the community.
The community members during the protest were armed with placards bearing messages such as "Gov Dapo Abiodun save us from pitch darkness", "We celebrated Christmas in the darkness", "Gov Abiodun, please help us, this suffering is too much", "IBEDC has failed us, Gov Abiodun come to our rescue" among others.
The community members said that they were forced to embark on another peaceful protest because despite an assurance from an official of the state government who visited the community a day after the first protest, the community has continued to cope with the pitch darkness.
Speaking during the protest, the head of the community, Chief Adeyemo Sofola said "We are forced to come out again today to express our pains and frustration because we are just tired of living in darkness since 2016"
Sofola disclosed further that"In our own determined way of getting this problem solved, Hon Ladipupo Adebutu around 2018 gave us a transformer which the official of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company certified to be in good order.
"We there and then raised over N11milion naira which was spent to buy cables, poles and the installation of the transformer, however, the IBDEC officials who supposed to help with the energization of the transformer said that the transformer was refurbished and therefore it is not fit for use.
"This is really painful because it is this same official that told us that the transformer was good and that was how we began to tax ourselves for the money spent on the installation.
"This was why we embarked on the protest two months ago and we thank God that our report got to government of Ogun State. An engineer who claimed to have been sent by the governor to come around and see what the problem was came to our community.
"He promised that the government is bringing a new transformer for us before that week runs out but over two months we have seen nothing.
"We celebrated the Christmas in total darkness, our businesses are collapsing and life is becoming extremely difficult.
"We are out today to beg Gov Abiodun who is our proud son in Ikenne Local Government to pls help us out. We don't want to enter year 2026 in this terrible situation, he should please give us the new transformer before the new year. Let the new transformer be the end of the year gift from the government to our community".
Also speaking during the protest, the Chief Imam of Ilisan Remo and a resident in the community, Alhaji Sarafadeen Aderemi also begged Gov Abiodun to come to the rescue of the community.
Alhaji Aderemi said that the poor power supply to the community housing over 4000 residents has seriously caused incalculable damage to its socio-economic development.
He stated that "After our protest two months ago, an official of the state government visited us and assured us that the governor is well aware of our problem and that within that week, we should get a new transformer, but we are yet to see anything
"This is festive season that people can make brisk business but there is no power supply, we can't charge our phones, we can't pump water, the artisans cannot get to do their jobs, and the dry season is here with the terrible heat, we can't use our fans. It is a horrible situation I must emphasize
"We sincerely beg Gov Abiodun to help us out. We are not supposed to be suffering like this after spending over N11m to install our transformer, we are begging the governor to ensure that we don't celebrate the new year in this terrible situation".
The Secretary of the Ireakari community, Mr Taiwo Idowu also appealed for urgent assistance from Gov Abiodun to end the reign of darkness in the community.
Mr Idowu explained that "We were happy when someone from the government contacted us after the first protest and promised us that the governor will be giving us new transformer within that week but it is well over two months now with nothing in sight
"We decided to come out again today because the problem is becoming unbearable. We are feeling abandoned and frustrated.
"A lot of people have had to relocate from this community because of this years of neglect.
"We tried to help ourselves and contributed over N11m to install a transformer but IBEDC officials that initially certified the transformer to be of good standard came around to say it was refurbished when it was time for them to energize it
"We are really begging our dutiful governor to please help us with the promised transformer, we don't want to continue this suffering in the new year. We call on all our representatives in government to please arise and save us from this horrible situation"
Mrs Janet Olaifa, who spoke on behalf of the women in the community also begged Gov Abiodun to return smiles to the faces of the residents of the community by giving them the promised transformer.
Mrs Olaifa disclosed that "We are out today again to protest this terrible challenge of poor power supply to our community for over a decade. We are out to beg Gov Abiodun to please help us with a transformer to put this dehumanizing situation behind us.
"We appeal to the governor to please fulfill his promise which he gave us after the first protest, our businesses have collapsed and many of us are really not finding it easy at all due to this blackout of many years.
"We urge the governor to please come to our aid and help the community with a transformer, we pray that the Almighty God will never allow him and his family to ever dwell in darkness in Jesus mighty name".
Efforts to speak to Mr Yomi Bada, the Public Relations Officer for IBEDC, Ogun Region proved abortive as calls made to his line went unanswered as at the time of filing this report.
Bada had told our Correspondent two months ago that the IBEDC officials were never contacted when the transformer was donated until it was about to be energized during when the transformer was found out to be substandard.
He added that he would however contact the regional head of the distribution company to explore possible ways to assist the community.
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