By Alltimepost.com
Benin City, Nigeria – Edo Civil Society Organizations have chastised the State House of Assembly Committee on Energy and Water Resources, led by Hon. Ezehi Igbas for the alleged shabby way it has handled their petition against the Benin Electricity Distribution Company.
They accused the committee of refusal/neglect to address the remote cause of their agitation/protest, and that it was rather concerned about their reaction and actions.
“The committee never demanded from BEDC its reason(s) for non-adherence to the provisions of the enabling Act of Parliament as regards tariff adjustment and their non-compliance to a valid court judgment.”
The organizations, at a press conference in Benin City last Saturday, said they were disappointed and displeased over the way and manner the House Committee handled their petition.
In the statement read and circulated by their Coordinator-General, Comrade Omobude Agho, the organizations said: “We, members of Edo Civil Society Organizations bring to the notice of Edo people the role and subtle position the House Committee on Energy and Water Resources of Edo State House of Assembly led by Hon. Ezehi Igbas took on our fight against the oppressive, extortive and fraudulent and unfair business practices of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company on the people.”
They referred to their protest against the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) and subsequent petition they submitted to the State House of Assembly “which Mr. Speaker in his wisdom” referred to the aforementioned committee for action.
According to the organizations, on Tuesday March 7, 2017, the committee scheduled a meeting with them and the management of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, adding that they got out of the meeting with concerns, arising from the disposition of committee chairman.
The organization listed their concerns to include:
1. We observed that the committee refused/neglected to address the remote cause of our agitation/protest rather was concerned about our reaction and actions.
That is, the committee never demanded from BEDC its reason(s) for non-adherence to the provisions of the enabling Act of Parliament as regards tariff adjustment and their non-compliance to a valid court judgment.
2. We were incessantly harassed, intimidated and threatened by the committee chairman and Hon. Chris Okaeben whom we later learnt does not form part of the committee, his statement and submission in that meeting suggests, he came to perform a script.
3. Encomiums and accolades were showered on the Managing Director of the BEDC by the committee chairman while the meeting was on going, a disposition that suggests that the meeting became a channel of opportunity for the committee chairman to cement a benefiting relationship with the Managing Director of the BEDC.
4. The fundamental issues raised in our petition were not adequately and satisfactorily addressed by the committee but rather the concerns of the BEDC took center stage of the meeting. As a matter of fact, the BEDC automatically became the petitioner not the respondent as it were.
5. The final pronouncement of the committee chairman was only directed to our reaction/action; he deliberately refused and neglected to issue any statement on the remote cause of our agitation/protest. An impression that suggests that the whole exercise was to satisfy the BEDC.
Flowing from the above, it is clear that the committee was not ready to resolve the complaints of Edo people as agitated by Edo Civil Society Organizations by not looking at the remote cause of the problems and addressing same.
One would have expected the committee to query the BEDC the reason behind their non-adherence to the provisions of the Electric Power Reform Act, 2005 and their disobedience to a valid court judgment which has to do tariff increment.
In furtherance to that, we have resolved at our General Assembly today and have passed a vote of no confidence on the committee on Energy and Water Resources in getting the truth and justice for Edo people.
It is also our resolve to explore all channels in compelling the BEDC to be lawful even if our lives are required to do so for the peace of Edo people. If the Edo State House of Assembly cannot protect Edo people from the claws of the BEDC, we will do it.
“THERE CANNOT BE PEACE WHEN THERE IS NO JUSTICE. EDO PEOPLE DESERVE JUSTICE NOW.”
