The Ika Landlords/Landladies Association led by its chairman, Comrade Vincent Arimokwu, on Wednesday May 16, 2018 visited the new Manager Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) Agbor Business unit.
Speaking during the visit, Comrade Arimokwu said they have come to identify with the new manager of BEDC, Agbor Business Unit, Mr. Timothy Adeleye and to welcome him to Ika land, the home of peace and love. He reminded Adeleye of the challenges Ika residents are facing in the hands of BEDC which he said resulted to protest. His words, “Adeleye, you look gentle and like a son to us. We hope you will have listening ears to our quest. Our challenges include estimated billings, vandalization, unlawful disconnection, none issuance of prepaid electricity meters and others.
Your predecessor before his transfer is yet to meet the needs of our people. Because we are peace loving people, we have always made efforts to calm our people from carrying out further protest, with hope that soon there will be good news to our quest. Our issues are more or less national issues but are now being handled at the state level which the next meeting is scheduled to hold on Friday, M ay 17, 2018 at Asaba, the capital of Delta State, and the outcome of the meeting will decide what happens next, because we are not happy at all”.
Responding, Mr. Timothy Adeleye thanked the Ika Landlords and Landladies Association for coming and pleaded with them to be patient with BEDC, and that all their needs will be attended to in no distant time. He appealed to all those who were issued estimated bills that even while they wait for the bills to be corrected, they should also make payment of some amount they feel they should be given and not to allow the bills to accumulate. He also enjoined consumers not to contribute money to replace BEDC vandalized equipment. He assured to work together with the good people of Ika nation.
Other members of Ika Landlords and Landladies in their speeches also lamented their challenges, appealing that urgent attention be given to their plights to put smiles on their faces.