Pelumi Olajengbesi, the Accord Party candidate for the Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency in Osun State, has brought an end to 14 years of erratic power supply by donating a brand new 300KVA transformer to the Ilo-Ijesa community situated in the Oriade Local Government Area.
This gesture fulfills a commitment made by Olajengbesi, who previously functioned as the spokesperson for the Ademola Adeleke re-election campaign, during his community visits in August ahead of recent elections. He had promised delivery of the equipment by October.
A public announcement issued by Sodiq Lawal Chocomilo, representing the Pelumi Olajengbesi Campaign Organization (POCO), noted that residents, community leaders, and local chairman Dapo Ajakaye welcomed the installation with immense celebration, highlighting that the area had suffered from poor voltage and unstable electricity since 2012.
What motivated this intervention?
Speaking during the handover event, Olajengbesi explained that his decision stemmed from a deep commitment to grassroots progress and economic improvement. He criticized the tendency of some political figures to neglect public infrastructure while amassing private wealth.
“Our people invest so much in this country, they pay taxes, they vote, but what public officials offer does not correspond with the people’s investment,” Olajengbesi stated, condemning situations where citizens endure total darkness while politicians enrich themselves.
He further remarked, “Nigeria has a class of people in positions of power with an uncontrollable appetite for money — those who can kill and die for money. There are provisions for basic social amenities like transformers, solar lights and boreholes, but they are diverted to private firms owned by some politicians.”
How did the community react?
Community leader Dapo Ajakaye expressed profound gratitude on behalf of the residents, admitting that he initially doubted the feasibility of the promise during the political campaign season.
“For 14 years, we have been having unstable electricity. When you told us that the transformer would be provided, I thought it was a bluff to earn our votes during the guber election. But you came in August, saw our suffering, and today you have ended our darkness. We have adopted you as our son and our light,” Ajakaye declared.
The commissioning event drew enthusiastic participation from local artisans, women's groups, and youth associations, who expressed optimism that the steady power supply would revitalize small-scale enterprises and improve local economic activities in the area.