An Ibadan-based lawyer, Kazeem Oladepo, has filed a petition against the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) over prolonged power outage in the Apete area of Ibadan, Oyo State.
NELSDAILY gathered that Apete, a densely populated community in Ido Local Government Area, comprises over fifty sub-communities and has been plunged into darkness for more than a month.
Oladepo, a resident of the affected area, described the situation as dire in a letter addressed to IBEDC and made available to DAILY POST on Monday. He warned that the blackout poses serious security threats and disrupts the socio-economic activities of the community.
“Can anybody in Nigeria today tell the public, especially the inhabitants of Apete, what sin the community has committed?” Oladepo questioned in the petition. “It is more than a month now without electricity. All efforts to resolve this have been futile.”
The legal practitioner expressed concern over the apparent silence of political leaders representing the community at various levels. He called out local government officials, members of the Oyo State House of Assembly, National Assembly representatives, and even President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging them to intervene.
He also highlighted the efforts already made by the community to draw attention to the crisis, including peaceful rallies and reports submitted to a popular Ibadan radio station. Despite these, he said, the power outage persists.
Oladepo emphasized that the power outage has particularly devastating consequences for students, noting that Apete hosts a large student population, including those attending The Polytechnic, Ibadan—an institution owned by the Oyo State Government.
He argued that continued lack of electricity undermines the government’s drive toward sustainable and quality education.
“This is a student-populated community. The persistent power outage is a major obstacle to education and community development,” he said. “This appeal is placed at the doorsteps of IBEDC, political leaders in Ido Constituency, and our ever-performing Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde. Let there be light in Apete—without further delay.”
The petition ends with a plea for immediate intervention to restore electricity and prevent further hardship for residents of the Apete community.
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