Member House of Representatives, Hon. (Dr.) Anthony Adebayo Adepoju, has bemoaned the adverse effect of the lack of electricity supply on the people of the Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa North, and Ibarapa East constituencies of Oyo State.
The federal lawmaker expressed that the lack of power supply has contributed in no small measure to brain drain while answering questions from correspondents of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) during the week in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
According to Hon. (Dr.) Adepoju, “In my community, we have a lot of people that have left that community because of power. We have people every day learning new trades, and they need power to work.
“How do we develop our community without power? It is very difficult. So, when you are trying to keep people in a place so they can help develop that community and people are leaving, you can’t blame them.
“We have to create that enabling environment for our people to survive in our community. We are a very enterprising set of people; we are people who love where we are from and who want to develop this place.
“So, this motion is a way to kick-start the process of getting to know why this project has not been completed and, more importantly, so that the project can be completed.” The lawmaker said.
Answering questions on his next line of action regarding the decision of the House of Representatives to probe the power project in Igboora, Lanlate and Igangan awarded over a decade ago, Hon. Adepoju said he is happy that the motion has been referred to the committee on power and expressed joy that he is also a member of the same committee.
“The motion has been referred to the committee on power, and fortunately enough, I am also a member of that committee as well. So, I will be happy to see everything as a member of that committee and actually look into where we are with it and what to contribute. I have heard a lot about this project.
“The good thing about this country is that a lot of the things we do are public information, and all you need to do is just a little bit of research.
It is all there, but if you do not put in the work to know where things are, then you will just be here, and you will not achieve anything at the end of the day, and people at home will suffer for it. I have been elected to make the lives of my people better, and I will not do anything short of that.
The committee on power will start work; I know that as of yesterday, they have started putting things in motion to start calling the people concerned and the companies involved, and I think the final job will be done, and at the end of the day, the people of Ibarapa Central, North and East will be better off from it.”
When asked about what the people should expect from him, Hon. Adepoju said he is grateful for the mandate given freely to him and he will protect it jealously for the betterment of the people he serves.
Also, that at the end of his tenure in office, all that he cares about is that the livelihood of the residents of the communities he serves are better than the way it was before he took over. He also hopes his people can truly answer in the affirmative that their lives are better off today than they were before he took over as member representing the constituency.
The Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Federal Character, stressed that he would use his influence as a federal lawmaker, coupled with the various committees of the House of Representatives to which he belongs, to change the lives of his constituents for the better.