Why Edo Governor Walked Out Benin Electricity Distribution Company MD From His Office

The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, on Tuesday walked out of his office the Managing Director of Benin Electricity Distribution Company, Funke Osibodu.

The MD was part of a team to the Governor’s Office for a meeting but was asked to leave for failing to meet obligations to electricity consumers and throwing the state into darkness for weeks.

Obaseki, according to a statement by the State Government, while receiving members of the House of Representatives Committee on Power on a courtesy visit, was surprised to see Osibodu among the lawmakers as her name was not on the list of expected guests.

The statement said the governor had been in darkness alongside millions of Edo State residents for weeks.

After the exit of Osibodu, Obaseki said the BEDC had continued to fail in collaborating with the state government to provide stable electricity in the state.

He said: “The BEDC has been an obstacle all the way.

“They will not provide electricity and will not allow you to get alternative sources of power.

“The state will not allow it.

“As governor of Edo State, we have lost confidence in the 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.”

Obaseki said despite the fact that the state generates about 600 megawatts to 700 megawatts of electricity, the people are still in darkness.

He said: “To assist, we set up electricity committee across the local government areas chaired by the Deputy Governor of the state, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, with the BEDC as a member, to understand the challenge.

“But the BEDC frustrated our resolve to finding a lasting solution to the issue of providing electricity to our people.”