By Emmanuel Ikhenebome
BENIN CITY – Edo State government has reaffirmed it stance on the performance of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) in the state.
The Head of Service, Mr. Isaac Ehiozuwa made this known on Thursday while addressingmembers of Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO) who protested to Government House over the passage of a Bill on Electricity Theft by Edo State House of Assembly.
Mr. Ehiozuwa spoke on behalf of the state Governor, Godwin Obaseki, and assured that, the Governor will always be on the side of the people.
According to the HOS, “the Governor’s position on electricity situation in the state still stands”.
The House of Assembly had on Monday passed a law to prohibit electricity theft and other related offences as well as to establish a special court to try violators which the activists say does not address the criminalization of estimated billings, none provision of metres, transformers, and poles.
Governor Obaseki last year walked the Managing Director (MD) of BEDC, Funke Osibodu, out of his office for failing to meet obligations to electricity consumers in the state.
“As Governor of Edo State, we have lost confidence in BEDC. We don’t want them here. We are in darkness. Let us remain in darkness until we find people who are capable of delivering electricity. This is our position”, He told members of the Federal House of Representatives Committee on Power led by Hon. Daniel Asuquo, who were in Government House, on a courtesy visit.
