When power speaks, it speaks in absolute terms. The elements that make-up power are so strong that power tends to predict or sometimes play god by giving prophecy about a certain condition of our national life and like magic, it will come to pass. Power also attract trust because when power speaks, all the facts and figures available for prove are automatically deployed to the battle field so as to cast out all doubt from the heart of the people. Therefore, Power has the ability to influence the behavior of people. This is achievable because the heart of man can be manipulated to believe and to act on the believes.
January 2012, a Cousin of mine who lives in Canada had strong words for me. He rebuked the Anti Fuel Subsidy Removal Protest. He lectured me on how a civilized society is run by the tax payers money. He also told me that by paying the right value for utilities, Nigerians will certainly get better value for their money.
This formed the basis of my acceptance when Mr President announced that a unit of electricity will move to #12.30 from #7.50, marking a difference of #4.80K. The Government based this increase on the fact that stable and reliable electricity will be available to all Nigerians if the right value is placed on power consumed by the people and this marked the biggest fraud in the history of modern Nigeria. Although government agents continue to see remarkable improvements in electricity, Nigerians are in one voice saying the power situation has not improved to say the least.
The Yoruba has an adage which says; ti ebiti o ba pa eera, a fi eyin fun eleyin ‘if the trap couldn’t kill an animal, it will return the palm kernel used in setting it up to the farmer’. Electricity has chosen not to improve but Nigerians are paying more by the day. We are paying more because our metres are now for decoration or to teach our children numerals. Our electricity bills are estimated at best and they are a product of some magical calculations which Nigerians are yet to understand. God save you also if your community transformer is faulty because the bill you pay is fixed whether you are served with electricity or not.
The average monthly energy consumed by one of my test case is 215 Units. When multiplied by 7.5 gives #2112.50 per month at the old rate plus the mandatory maintenance charges. Using the new rate of 12.3, the monthly bill equals #3144.5 plus the #500 maintenance charges. The evil part is that the family has been given a bill of over #5000 for the last five months for an highly irregular, low voltage supply.
Then why do we need to pay #500 for maintenance when its common knowledge that the people contribute for repairs and even have to pay officers before the repairs can be done.
The National Assembly is a disgrace for allowing a situation like this to exist at all. They have the power to reverse the rate until things improve. The Senate is a lame hope but the House of Representative should have done something about it. Or is it because they too are far from the realities on ground? The media too are quiet but I guess most of them use generators and might be totally off the PHCN cheat.
Nigerians are suffering but some sufferings are avoidable.
Olugbotemi is a leading social Critic and lives in Osun State. He can be reached via twitter: @olugbotemi
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