Kunle Adelabu
The concurrence to the amendment to the Electric Power Sector Reform Act by the Senate, which was sponsored by the representative of ikorodu Federal constituency, Rep. Babajimi Adegoke Benson, has continued to generate reactions, and this time around, from the First Class traditional ruler, His Royal Majesty, (Oba) Dr. AbdulHakeem Adeoriyomi Oyebo, the Obateru of Egbin, in whose Kingdom the Egbin Thermal Station is located.
The royal father has described the bill, which seeks to amend Section 77 of the Principal Act with a view to provide for the development of the host communities and address the adverse effects on the environment, human and aquatic lives on the communities hosting the power generating stations all over the country, particularly thermal pollution from the power generating stations, as a welcome development, adding that the legislative initiative of Rep. Benson, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Defense, has a manifestation of his and other stakeholders’ efforts in protecting his kingdom’s stake.
Obateru, who said that his efforts before the Egbin Power Plant was privatized, was truncated by his ordeal with the police, gave his reaction in a chat with THE IMPACT, on Friday.
“It was a welcome development, and a long overdue joy, a great and well-done job. I will give a big kudos to our amiable member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Babajimi Benson”, Obateru of Egbin said.
“His efforts and struggles have really capped my efforts and support of some leaders in the division, who have given me enormous support and advice before and during the negotiating and representation meeting on our stake in the privatisation of Egbin Power Plant with the Senate House Committee on Privatisation for the privatisation of Egbin Power PLC, Volkswagen Nigeria Ltd, and the Port Authority.
“Representatives of Lagos State Government from the Ministry of Justice, the then two members of the House of Assembly from Ikorodu, and two of my chiefs, accompanied me to the presentation in Abuja”, the royal father recalled.
The Egbin monarch, who said that his ordeal with the police prevented him from defending the stake of his kingdom when the privitisation was done, also added that he did not relent in the pursuit to protect the interest of Egbin, and expressed his profound happiness that the representative of the Ikorodu Federal Constituency has been able to achieve what he has been pursuing for his community.
“It was after that, that I was incarcerated, and the handing over (of Egbin Thermal Plant) was done in my absence. Since then, we have been struggling by writing and visiting the authorities, both in Lagos and Abuja, but the good God Almighty in His infinite mercy made my brother, JB (Babajimi Benson), to hold the bull by the horns, as he can vividly see my efforts and struggles towards getting our stakes as a community”, Oba Oyebo said.
“I would say JB has fulfilled one of his main promises to me, and the people of Egbin and environs by getting the bill to this stage and still following up to the Presidency without looking back despite all the challenges and hurdles he has faced since the beginning of his first term in the house.
“My prayer is that the good God Almighty and our ancestors will continue to be with him always”, Obateru prayed.
