CALABAR – The neighbours of Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, have been in darkness for six months due to a faulty transformer.
According to the residents of Ekorinim, Calabar, especially those living around the Governor’s house, the last time they saw electricity was in November 2024.
Efforts have been made by the residents, including monetary ones, but to no avail, as they have been left with only one option – the power of sunlight only shining during the day.
“Since November last year, we have not seen light (electricity) and it has not been easy. You know in today’s Calabar, once there is no light, there won’t be water. So, the struggle to get water has not been easy.
“When we met NEPA (PHED) staff who came around, we were briefed that our transformer is bad – that is after several attempts.
“We have contributed money, but nothing is being done, and this is May, no hope of light. My pocket is weak due to what I’ve spent on fuel (petrol) for my generator, and now, my generator is bad – everything is just hell. We are begging the Governor to come to our aid, since we are his neighbours,” one of the residents said.
Another resident alleged that they have made efforts to reach out to the wife of the Governor, Bishop Eyoanwan Otu, for help but the outcome is not pleasant to the ear.
“Since PHED is not saying anything reasonable, we mobilised and met with Her Excellency, who said our community (Ekorinim) didn’t vote for her husband, so why are we asking her for help?
“Meanwhile, most of us traded our family ties and friendships to make sure APC won the election in 2023; it is heartbreaking to hear that from a leader whose mantra is ‘People’s First.’
“We are begging the government to help with a transformer for us to also enjoy the season of sweetness,” the resident said.
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Converseer reports that in February this year, the same issue was raised by a journalist before the Governor during a media chat at the temporary Governor’s office in Calabar.
In his response, Governor Otu said, “Electricity is not as demanding as road,” adding that, “In a month or two, we’ll be opening our own power station.”
The Governor said the state is considering a lasting solution to the electricity problem, which has burdened the state for a long time now.
By doing that, he said, “We are looking to buy the Odukpani Power plant. We have the money to buy the power plant.
“When you look at the power distribution, we need about 70% but we’re not getting up to 10%, which is very poor.”
When contacted on the phone on Friday, Mr Darlington Edem, Deputy Press Secretary to the Governor, told Converseer that efforts are being made to restore electricity in the area.
“So far, the State Electrification Agency (SEA) has distributed some transformers across board and even in that community. I am surprised to hear this, maybe it has not gotten to the area the complaints are coming from, but surely it will,” Edem said.
For the First Lady’s alleged remark, the Deputy Press Secretary said, “I doubt Her Excellency will make such a statement. The wife of the Governor that I know places everyone’s priority first. For someone to claim she said such a thing, I doubt because she has every Cross Riverian and residents at heart.”
Converseer further reports that transformer issues are spread across the metropolis, with the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) looking overwhelmed.
“PHED is a distributing company, we don’t have the capacity to provide transformers – all we can do is service them,” a PHED staff said.