Sokoto is thrown into darkness following a strike action by electricity workers protesting the alleged flogging of one of their officials by Governor Aliyu Wamakko.
Whatever it is that transpired between Governor Aliyu
Wamakko and Moses Osigwe, the Business Manager of the Power Holding Company of
Nigeria, PHCN in the Gwuiwa district was without the knowledge of the majority
of the people of Sokoto State.
However, the fallout from that meeting is today the cause of
much agony in many parts of the state following the cut off of power by the
electricity workers in the state.
Private businesses, government institutions including
hospitals were as at yesterday without electric power supply for the third day
in the brutal battle of ego between Governor Wamakko and the National Union of
Electricity Employees, NUEE.
The battle arose from what is claimed to be the alleged
extortion of the governor’s local government area, Wamakko Local Government
Area by PHCN officials in the Gwuiwa Business Unit of PHCN.
It is alleged that following pressure on the government by
the people of Wamakko local government, that the governor invited the PHCN
officials to suggest to government, a permanent solution to the problem of lack
of supply of electricity to the area.
After the meeting with the governor, PHCN staff allegedly
brought an estimate of N17 million to the state government, for, among others,
the provision of a 2.5 MVA transformer.
Though the money was provided, the situation, however, did
not change leading to tension in the area.
It was allegedly based on the growing tension that the
governor again invited the PHCN officials led by Osigwe to his residence in
Wamakko on October 20 for another meeting.
At the meeting, Osigwe was alleged not to have shown proper
courtesy and reverence for the person of the governor and he was allegedly
personally flogged by the governor before he was handed over to other security
aides of the governor for further action.
The Sokoto/Zamfara Council NUEE in a statement signed by its
Chairman and Secretary, Abubakar Sani and Yusuf Abdulkarim respectively, gave
their narration of what happened that day.
“The Governor personally assaulted the Business Manager and
two other staff who were mercilessly beaten and finally handed to his personal
security for further assault/torture.”
In the statement the NUEE vowed to “withdraw their staff
from all PHCN formations and total blackout across the state till further
notice.”
source: Vanguard
