HUNDRED REJECTS CRAZY BILL AT ALABA COMMUNITY.

On Friday 8 June, 2018  I was opportune to attend a general meeting of an ongoing electricity campaign at Agbamu community situated in Alaba Area, a constituency that is under the All Progressive Congress (APC) led regime of Hon. Fatai Ajidagba (popularly known as Ajifat) Ifelodun Local Government Development Area (LCDA). 

Protest and resistances against No Payment For Darkness  have been on going for the past five months. The campaign has spread its wing virtually in all corners of the streets in Ifelodun Local Council Development Area (LCDA). Hundred of residents especially the women both old and young are ever united in the struggle against overestimated billing. 

Although, the matter had been in the Federal High Court as reported by some of the residents in the community who are involved in the campaign. According to the information gathered. The Court said the resident of Agbamu Street and other neighbouring axis of Alaba that is on this fight, should go and pay N5000 only for each compound. Meanwhile, the agitators still felt they are overpaying Eko Distribution Company. 

Despite this, the protesters are still holding ground, showing resilience and doggedness. Some of the reports gotten so far was, the private run capitalist electricity company: Eko Distribution Company (EKEDC) had been stopped by residents in the community most especially the organized women and youths from disconnection. The women on their part have been peaceful in canvassing other streets to join the campaign. 

On their own they have been able to organize Defence Working Committee known as Task Force to help in organizing the street for resistances whenever EKEDC comes to disconnect. More than Ten streets so far have been united in this campaign. The women who have being dogged, had dissipated passion and commitment in the struggle in continuing to spread the campaign to other neighbouring communities, appealing they join the movement. 

In short, group like the Ajegunle People's Movement (APM)  were at the meeting to throw their weight of solidarity. Some of the women who spoke, expressed in strong tune that the private company should not be allow to disconnect any house. In fact, one of the woman addressing the crowd said, they should not relent. They should continue in the fight. That the Eko Disco is exploiting them. They must continue to remain organize. (it was in Yoruba language). 

Others who also spoke share the same thing. Interestingly, it was gathered that since the resistance had been going on. For the past four months or thereabout, residents in the community had refused to pay for electricity bill after the N5000 the court directed people should go and pay. In spite of this, the power company still went ahead to disconnect some of the houses in other street who were defenceless. 

Raji who is leading the campaign persuaded the people on their resolved not to pay any money until EKEDC has come down to reconnect those buildings disconnected unlawfully. A lot of the women present at the meeting wholeheartedly acknowledge this by giving full endorsement on it. Raji said as far we all are ever united, bold to carry on. We should not allow them to disconnect us any more building until we are reconnected. 

That it is unlawful and a violation of our democratic rights. He was saying this directly to the women and some youths at the meeting that in no accord will they succumb to the Eko Disco marketers who are appealing for residents to go and pay. It was gathered that while the case shall be coming up on Tuesday July 3, 2018 at the Federal High Court, Lagos. The agitators are planning for a day of action immediately after the Eil el Fitri  to organize a protest rally.

A lot of the women in their resolved are ever ready in respective of how far they have gone to marched on. They strongly believe the private run capitalist corporate organization is massively exploiting the entire residents. As far the women are concern, this is injustice from the part of the companies supplying darkness and stealing people's money with exploitative crazy bill so to make super profit. 

Socialists who spoke at the meeting applaud the women. Encouraged them to be steadfast in the fight. Importantly, calling on the youth and the entire residents to actively participate in this campaign. That the rot in the privatization of the power sector confirms it has fail and cannot take us any further unless the sector is taken back under workers control and management. The private company will continue to bombard residents with crazy bills. 

By

Copyright @Fidel Davy  

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