THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012
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CARTOON & LETTERS
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IR: The picture of a man on a pole belonging to Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) attempting to fix a cable in Samaru, Zaria featured on page 4 of Daily Trust edition of Monday, September 17, could best be described as one on a suicide mission. He was probably reconnecting or attempting to reconnect a disconnected customer for a token or fixing an unauthorised fault to the detriment of his own precious life. Pictures are said to speak more than a million words. The apparent danger in ignorantly or consciously accepting to commit suicide, become a device employed in sabotaging public utilities, treating same with scornful indifference and as inconsequential facilities of no value was the essence of the pictorial message. In fact, this picture was as worrisome as it calls for caution and adequate enlightenment. Enlightenment will go a long way in bringing to the knowledge of PHCN’s
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Dangers of tampering with PHCN installations esteemed customers the dangers inherent in tampering with installations without authorisation. The safety of life of those indulging in this illicit act can only be guaranteed by the Almighty as they may not live to tell the stories. Some unlucky ones who threw caution to the wind like this fellow were electrocuted while others live with the unforgettable scar resulting from burns as a reminder of an unfortunate adventure. This action could lead to short-circuiting of transformer (s) or trigger a monumental technical fault along PHCN network which thus throw the entire area into darkness. The
effort of government in ensuring that the nagging problem of power is resolved should not be scuttled by a few involved in this act. This action deprives PHCN of the needed revenue generation expected to be ploughed back into serving the public better. Electric poles are normally climbed with recommended PHCN ladders only. Therefore, it is abnormal and foolhardy climbing an electric pole with mere bare hands because chances of losing balance are high. Apart from the aforementioned dangers, the public should be duly informed that the extant laws of the nation frown at this act and a cor-
State College of Technology(OSCOTECH) according to available records is bigger than many present local government headquarters in the state in terms of population,infrastructure, land mass, adjoining villages and hamlets of more than 40 with their separate community heads. The ancient town of Esa Oke which produced the first Executive Governor of Old Oyo state and leader of the progressives, late Bola Ige and many other illustrious sons and daughters has the wherewithal including economic power, high political profile and available structures to become an independent local government or as the headquarters of one of the proposed councils in the present Obokun Local Government. A critical assessment of the present population of Esa Oke shows that it overwhelm all others particularly in
Obokun Local Government comprising Ibokun, Imesi Ile, Ilare, Otan Ile, Ikinyinwa, Idominasi, Ilowa, Iponda, Ilase, Idoka, Esa odo, Eesun, Ido Oko, Ipetu Ile etc while its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is higher than all other towns put together. Esa Oke has a vibrant historic records particularly with his immediate past monarch, Oba Isaiah Ajayi Adeniran, Owa Omiran(JP) serving as the only traditional ruler who was a member of. House of Chiefs in the Old Western region that represented the entire Obas in that axis during an international conference in England, where he met Queen Elizabeth(II). This was about six decades ago. He was also the first chairman of Ijesa North Traditional council. Talking in terms of land mass, Esa Oke extends from River Ooni near
responding penalty of 21 years imprisonment await defaulters. In short, we have in our hands a time bomb waiting to explode. An ugly situation which practically threw up the quantum of attention and concern an individual Nigerian pay to the sanctity of his own life and that of his neighbours. It is our responsibility as individuals and community to safeguard public utilities in our domains especially that of PHCN for the important services they render. We should report any suspicious movement around PHCN installations to the police or the nearest PHCN Service Centres. Fur-
Esa Oke deserves local council headquarter status IR: History and posterity will continue to judge the governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for his administration's transformation agenda within the almost two years he has been in the saddle. Aregbesola is bringing his progressive traits into bear with unprecedented achievements within few months of his administration, particularly on his resolve to create new local government councils. Although as it is customary when opportunity like this comes, every community is bound to agitate, but there are many factors those in charge should consider. The present Ijesa North federal constituency comprising, Obokun and Oriade Local governments has a complex structure with many big towns,villages and land mass. Esa Oke, the host community of the Osun
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Ijebu Jesa in the southern part and share borders with Efon Alaye Ekiti in the east and Okemesi- Ekiti and Imesi Ile in the north. It is endowed with a large fertile land that will ginger the laudable agricultural instinct of the incumbent Aregbesola administration. The community has about seven public and private secondary schools and many elementary schools. In fact, Government needs little or nothing to add to the existing infrastructure in Esa Oke community for the effective take-off of the proposal. Our distinguished son, Bola Ige whom Ogbeni Aregbesola and other progressive leaders like Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande hold in high esteem will rejoice in his grave if Esa Oke is granted a status of Local Government headquarters. • Damisi Ojo, Ondo Bye Pass, Akure.
thermore, our various communities should be willing allies of PHCN to be able to win this war by discouraging their people from partaking in this illegal act. The media is passionately called upon to assist PHCN in opinion moulding, audience penetration, information dissemination, education and enlightenment on this inherent danger constantly lurking in our neighbourhoods and brazenly ignored to our own peril. By so doing, the consciousness of the PHCN customers will be awakened to the realities and the consequences of this unwarranted trend. • Sunday Onyemaechi Eze Power Holding Company of Nigeria, Zaria, Kaduna
Questions for CBN Governor Sanusi
IR: Please help us ask the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to give sincere answers to these questions.... Will the introduction of the new N5000 note make the naira exchange rate higher than dollar, pounds, rand, euros and so on? If yes, please tell him Nigerians can’t wait to have the new currency. With the intended introduction of the so-called coin tellers or ATM machines, will the CBN governor and his "pro-=N=5000" note group accept and spend the coins and also will they move around with these coins in their pockets of expensive and imported suits? Will the new note change the life of the poor masses or will only make the rich richer? Please the CBN should have a rethink. May God bless Nigeria. • Lukman Adamu Mararaba, Nasarawa State
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