Communities in Calabar, Cross River State, under the auspices of The Progressive Concerned Residents of Akpabuyo/Bakassi and Imam Communities & Environs (PCRACE) have queued behind the management of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution (PHED) led by Collins Igwe in solidarity with him against calls for his removal.
The Group’s action follows a published article posted on Opera news, on Jan 31, 2022 demanding the resignation of the Zonal Manager of the PHED Plc, Calabar.
In a statement, the PCRACE voiced their disapproval of the moves by some groups to have the PHED zonal manger relieved of his position.
The statement read in part: “We the Progressive Concerned Residents of Akpabuyo/Bakassi and Iman Communities and environs completely disagree with the ultimatum howsoever issued by any group or group of persons calling for his removal or revocation of PHED’s operating licence.”
“Prior to his resumption of office, Akpabuyo LGA was plunged into darkness that lasted for more than two years and residents complained, wept, even protested but to no avail until the zonal manager came to our rescue.”
“This is politically motivated, the manager before Collins Igwe did the unbelievable, subjecting the masses to untold hardship and there was no call to revoke PHED license nor the removal of the manager from office even when we embarked on a protest.” Another consumer exclaimed
Continuing, he said: ” Now, we have a man who is even giving us a listening ear, restored supply to rural areas and now people are calling for his removal. It will not work!. This is cheap propaganda and we will not allow it.”
According to the community members, some big shots might be behind the propaganda either because they are not paying their bills and may see Collins Igwe as a person who will always come and disconnect them.
They further assumed that perhaps the aggrieved influential persons, couldn’t strike a deal with PHED and the manager to cheat leading them to resort to sponsoring some fraudulent groups and individualsto carry out campaign of calumny againt the hard working PHED manager.
PCRACE submited that Igwe’s team has achieved a lot within a short period of time and itemised as follows:
1. His office is open to all. He hears from all sides affected and takes our plight to heart.
2. Residents have enjoyed an increased number of hours of light supply. Especially during the festive period and weekends, such that a resident event asked,” Are we still in Nigeria?” because he was surprised to see five daysof twenty four hours of uninterrupted power supply.
3. Under the leadership of Collins Igwe, more people receive bills and visit pay point positioned at their doorstep. As bills are properly dispatched. People now rush to pay their bills.
4. More communities are expecting their transformers to be commissioned this week sat, Feb 5. 2022, Courtesy to the efforts of Collins Igwe who engaged the residents of the areas some days ago.
Also, expressing their appreciation, the Iman Community and environs, a community of over 270 compounds recounted their experience before Igwe assumed office.
The community noted that his predecessor could not help them despite the security implication of not having power supply in their community which plays host to the Calabar Custodial Centre.
“In clear and strong terms we declare that the two weeks ultimatum is unwarranted, and the information being peddled is untrue and call on the writer of the empty article and his group to withdraw the post and consequently apologize to the PHED Zonal Manager, Calabar who means so well for the residents.” The communities declared.
They also insisted that Igwe is rather facing some challenges from people who do not want to pay their electricity bills or have forgetten that any energy consumed must be accounted for.
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