The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation has criticised Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State for attributing inadequate electricity supply to his administration's continued dependence on fuel-powered generators for streetlights. A statement by the organisation's Director, Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, described Makinde's excuse as disingenuous and a sign of gross incompetence. The organisation pointed to the Electricity Act 2023 signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, empowering states to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity.
Oyo State, like 16 other states, has taken advantage of the law and established the Oyo State Electricity Regulatory Commission. The state completed the transfer of regulatory oversight from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). According to the Alli campaign organisation, this gives Governor Makinde no excuse for his administration's incompetence and failure. The organisation alleged that Makinde's administration deceived the people with an 11-megawatt Independent Power Project (IPP) valued at N8.5 billion, which failed to generate a single watt of electricity.
The IPP project, awarded to Elektron Energy, was terminated late last year after billions were spent on it. The Alli campaign organisation described the project as a white elephant and a waste of resources. In contrast, power projects in 16 other states have become success stories, with Abia State generating 188 megawatts of electricity, Akwa Ibom 191 megawatts, and Ekiti 8.6 megawatts. The organisation questioned why the project in Oyo State has not provided a sustainable source of electricity for critical public infrastructure.
The people of Oyo State deserve to know why the project failed to provide electricity for streetlights, government secretariat, and health facilities. The organisation criticised Governor Makinde for junketing around the country in search of a national network for his presidential aspiration while the state's electricity challenges persist. The diesel-powered streetlights are no longer working, leaving major roads dark at night.
The Alli campaign organisation described it as embarrassing for Governor Makinde, who prides himself on being an electrical engineer, to blame irregular power supply for his administration's failures. The organisation stated that leadership is about solving problems, not repeatedly describing them or using them as excuses for failure. Governor Makinde has been in office for over seven years and cannot continue blaming external factors for his administration's shortcomings.
The organisation also criticised the deal to replace generators every six months, describing it as a job for the boys. The cost of fuelling the generators is prohibitively high, and the organisation questioned the value for money in the project. The failure of the power project has left the people of Oyo State with no value for their money.
The Alli campaign organisation's statement concluded that Governor Makinde's administration has failed to provide a sustainable solution to the state's electricity challenges. The organisation called on the governor to take responsibility for his administration's failures rather than blaming external factors. The people of Oyo State deserve better leadership and a sustainable solution to their electricity challenges.
Key points
- The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation criticised Governor Seyi Makinde's administration for the failed N8.5bn power project in Oyo State.
- The project, valued at N8.5 billion, failed to generate a single watt of electricity and was terminated late last year.
- The organisation questioned Governor Makinde's competence and leadership, citing his administration's continued dependence on fuel-powered generators for streetlights.
