“I’ve seen; I’ve conquered”-Adelabu’s offensive declaration at Airport to few un-informed Ibadans, by Kola Amzat
“I came; I saw; I conquered”-This is symbolic of Caesar’s intentions to take credit for the important victory against the Bosporan Empire. He wanted to ensure that the Roman Senate recognized his ability and power as a leader and his importance to the success of the empire.
This was the same declaration made by the immediate past minister of power, Bayo Adelabu at Ibadan Airport upon returning home from Abuja after his resignation from office, ostensibly to contest for Oyo state topmost office at the forthcoming general elections.
However, this writer is of the view that such audacious declaration is that triumphant statement normally on the lips of victors and heroes/heroines who might have conquered at war or excelled brilliantly amongst the multitudes in a specific human endeavor.
Of course, the generality of Nigerians would find it absolutely difficult to juxtapose the former minister’s inappropriate statement vis-à-vis his abysmal performance while in office for about 3 years.
Even, if the declaration was aimed at distracting and currying the favour of the obviously hapless and uninformed rented crowd that thronged the Ibadan Airport to welcome him, he ought to have recognized that the offensive declaration that has obviously affected the sensibilities of Nigerians would go viral–households, corporate establishments and government offices across the federation-those that the former minister had inflicted immeasurable pains and agony on their business enterprises and other means of livelihood, as a result of his lack of commitment, resourcefulness, focus, will and zeal to turn around the fortunes of the all-important ministry, despite huge and tremendous supports given to him by the presidency while he’s in charge.
Maybe, the grandson of late popular Ibadan politician-Adelabu penkelemesi is oblivious of the fact that owing to his dismal performance while in office, several business enterprises-Small, Medium and Large scale businesses have collapsed, with some, eternally finding their way to extinction!
Maybe he’s not conscious of the fact some artisans-Vulcanizers, Mechanics, Barbers, Tailors and the likes, have all abandoned their primary callings to venture into riding Okada as a means of livelihood, a consequence upon collapse of their original trade!
Maybe, the ex-minister is not aware that many companies in Lagos and other strategic locations across the country have relocated to neighboring countries to operate because they could no longer cope with the humongous operational costs of production in Nigeria owing to persistent blackout, as well as continual collapse of national grid!
Maybe, the former CBN deputy governor has lost memory of thousands of able, dynamic and vibrant young graduates, as well as several thousands of unskilled workers that have lost their jobs as a result of relocation of the companies caught in the web of astronomical operational costs in Nigeria!
Maybe, the Ibadan political chieftain didn’t have the consciousness that Nigerians were waiting for him patiently to resign from the plum job, and thereafter tender UNRESERVED APOLOGY to the entire nation for totally failing the president who reposed trust and confidence in him by appointing him to the plum office, and also for failing Corporate Nigeria and the entire business community in the country, as well as many households, and thereafter slip quietly into OBLIVION, instead of aspiring to contest for governorship of Oyo state, which discerning Nigerians are of strong conviction that he doesn’t have the requisite wherewithal-competence, emotional intelligence, mental and psychological balance, as well as necessary temperate to govern.
For emphasis, the immediate past minister assumed office when the country was swinging between 3,500-4,000 Megawatts.
He ascended when the national grid was relatively stable-perhaps collapsing once in a year, or at worst, twice in a year and not that regularity that characterized his tenure.
It’s also instructive to note that he got inaugurated into office when the new Electricity Act just got assented by the president-a tremendous initiative that completely removed the AUTONOMY of Nigeria Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC) from solely administering and overseeing the generation, transmission and distribution of power across the length and breadth of the country.
The new Electricity Act liberally aimed at decentralizing power management—also give power and authority to private investors/entrepreneurs, corporate bodies, as well as State and LG authorities to equally get involved in the electricity generation, transmission and distribution.
With the above, the immediate past minister had his job and assignment well cut out.
A very focused, result-driven, developmental, transformative and innovative leader would have capitalized on the new Electricity Act to significantly improve and enhance the fortunes of the ministry by turning the tide.
He would have completely enforced the liberalization scheme as contained in the new Act by inviting credible, genuine, patriotic and service-centric local and foreign investors who are willing to substantially capitalize on the investment opportunity and make appreciable returns for themselves and the government alike.
The strategic initiative which supposed to have been anchored on manifold incentives, would have facilitated the springing up of several genuine investors who would have been disposed to pump hundreds of millions of dollars and other key foreign currencies, that could have facilitated and ensuring increasing of the megawatts to about 9,000 to 10,000, which could have at least reasonably provides leverage for the country electricity users.
The immediate past minister would have connected and contracted electricity and energy experts from China, Russia, Korea, Japan, and even India for the purpose of deploying their expertise and technical know-how to stabilize the national grids.
President Tinubu would have been gladly and favourably disposed towards providing the requisite resources to fund the project.
But instead of the former minister to religiously commit him to aforementioned problem-solving initiatives, he got absolutely consumed and distracted by preoccupying himself at capturing power and authority, through winning 2027 Oyo governorship elections that is still far ahead.
Instead of making his Abuja ministry office a citadel of idea generation, devoting substantial portion of 24/7 strategizing, innovating, consulting and bringing experts from near and wide to turn the tide, he opted to commit his significant portion of his tenure in office to pursue governorship project that had eluded him and would continue to elude him.
His nonchalant and lackadaisical approach to the all-important assignment indeed provided a veritable platform for DISCOs across the country to terrorize, oppress and cheat Nigerians.
During Adelabu era, DISCOs remained the most dastard, oppressive and bullying business enterprises into submission, without an iota of human face and empathy for millions of Nigerians electricity users owing to the minister’s lack of control and non-involvement.
His resignation is therefore a good riddance.
Finally, it’s left for good people of Oyo state, and APC leadership hierarchy to assert to the former minister that the state wouldn’t provide refuge for someone who had ample opportunity to showcase the state and launch her to national consciousness through audacious, credible and historic performance in office, but, deliberately opted to miss the opportunity.
This is also the defining time that the ADC leadership and millions of party members in the state affirm to the former minister that they remained unwavering, resolute and not distracted in their avowed resolve to make Senator Sarafadeen Alli the gubernatorial candidate of the party at the forthcoming elections and ultimately triumph at polls.
Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB),
09077509348,
