The Campaign for Democracy (CD) in the South East and the Human Rights, Liberty Access, and Peace Defenders’ Foundation (HURIDE) have jointly called for the immediate dismissal of Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, following his recent controversial remarks on electricity usage in Nigeria.
Despite Adelabu’s public apology for his comments blaming Nigerians for the country’s power supply challenges, the two human rights and pro-democracy groups have urged President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to take swift action and relieve the Minister of his duties.
In a joint statement signed by the chairman of CD in the South East and the Executive Director of HURIDE, High Chief Dede Uzor A. Uzor, the groups rejected Adelabu’s apology, asserting that his behavior and statements are incompatible with the responsibilities of a federal minister.
The groups criticized Adelabu’s tendency to disparage and belittle the Nigerian populace, stating that his remarks demonstrate a disconnect between leadership and public service.
Expressing their disappointment in Adelabu’s conduct, the groups called on President Tinubu to uphold democratic principles by promptly removing the Minister from office, emphasizing that leaders at all levels must recognize their role as servants of the people, not their masters.
The groups also condemned the recent hike in electricity tariffs by the Federal Government, describing it as arbitrary and unjustifiable. They highlighted the lack of corresponding improvements in power supply to justify such a drastic increase, particularly amidst ongoing economic challenges facing Nigerians.
In addition to criticizing the government’s handling of the electricity sector, the groups raised concerns about monopolistic practices within the industry and called for measures to promote healthy competition, similar to what is observed in the telecommunications sector.
High Chief Dede Uzor A. Uzor further expressed outrage at the prevalence of corruption within both the government and distribution companies, attributing a significant portion of Nigeria’s electricity woes to this systemic issue. He condemned the failure to provide meters to approximately 50 percent of consumers, labeling it a deliberate ploy by distribution companies to exploit consumers through exorbitant billing practices.
The joint statement concluded with a stark warning that failure to address these issues promptly could further erode the already dwindling popularity of the Tinubu administration and the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a whole.