From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
The Imo State Government (IMSG) says it has allegedly obtained credible intelligence of plans by the management of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) to unleash major power outage in the State in a bid to frustrate and sabotage the Light up Imo project which will soon provide uninterrupted light to all parts of the state.
Hon.Declan Emelumba, the State Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation, and Strategy disclosed this in Owerri, Imo State capital on Sunday in a press statement he issued and endorsed on behalf of the State government and made available to news men including The Authority.
Emeluba said it point blank that the government has ample evidence indicating that EEDC is determined to ensure that the efforts by the Imo State government to provide reliable and affordable electricity to her populace are frustrated.
“The government has always known that the management of EEDC will want to hold on to its current monopoly of providing erratic electricity to Imo people at exorbitant tariffs.
“The idea behind the planned massive power outage by EEDC is to turn around and blame the installation process of the Orashi Electricity company, the state government’s licensed company, for the blackouts” he stated.
He also allegedly disclosed that EEDC has already prepared a statement it will issue blaming the state government and Orashi Electricity Company for the outages.
“This is a ploy to turn Imo people against the company and also create the false impression that the company lacks the technical knowledge and capacity to function.
“EEDC is already aware that the first phase of the Light Up Imo Project will significantly cover the entire Owerri metropolis and is therefore afraid of losing its monopoly and the attendant revenue. That is the reason for this desperation” he informed.
Emeluba emphatically stated that the government is by this statement putting Imo people on notice of this unholy plan by EEDC, to “allegedly”inflict avoidable hardship and huge losses to businesses through their wicked plans of throwing the state into darkness anytime from today (Sunday) or tomorrow (Monday).
He assured that security agencies are also being alerted on this wicked plan by EEDC to sabotage a fully licensed company from fully carrying out its responsibilities and, of course, the implications of such lawlessness.
