The monarchs who described the activities and services of the BEDC in the state as antithetical to the purpose it was established and called on the Federal Government to consider a better option for good and efficient services.
Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers in a statement, the Chairman of the Ondo State Council of Obas and the traditional ruler of Ikare Akoko, Oba Akadiri Momoh, said the services of the electricity company has fallen short of the hope and expectations of its consumers in the state.
Oba Momoh said the traditional rulers in the state decided to pass a vote of no confidence on BEDC over its erratic power supply, refusal to distribute meters as directed by the Nigeria Electricity Regulation Company (NERC) and failure to energise transformers in all areas within the state.
He also said BEDC had failed to give efficient services to the people of the state as one of its constituent saying “the Council has noted that the activities and services of the BEDC have been antithetical to the purpose of its creation.”
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The monarch said the Council has been monitoring the operation of the BEDC in the three senatorial districts of the state and the services fall short of the hope and expectations of the consumers.
He noted the ordeal of the people of the southern senatorial districts who had been living in darkness for many years describing it as pathetic.
The monarch said “all the efforts of the people of the Southern senatorial district and major stakeholders to make the BEDC see reason and shift ground in what seems to be its resolve that there is perpetual blackout in the area had proved abortive.
“In Northern senatorial district, reports indicated that the BEDC only supply electricity to selected communities only when bills are to be served on consumers.”
According to the traditional rulers, the poor and inefficient services of the BEDC had been causing agonies for the people of the state and taking its toll on the social, cultural and economic activities of the people of the state.
“The Ondo State Council of Obas, therefore, resolved to pass a vote of no confidence on the BEDC and hereby call on the Federal Government not to renew the licence of operation of BEDC.
“The Federal Government is requested to consider a better option for good and efficient service delivery.”
In his reaction, the Public Relations Officer of BEDC in charge of Ondo and Ekiti, Mr. Kayode Brown, said the renewal of the operating license of the BEDC would not be determined by the call of traditional rulers in the state but said the performance of the company in the zone would determine its renewal.
He said it is only the Federal Government that can determine the renewal of the operating license of the electricity company saying the vote of no confidence and the call by the Ondo state council of traditional rulers is misplaced.
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