Frustrated by deepening power crisis, about 10,000 people yesterday stormed the streets of Lagos, calling on the Government of the Federation to put an end to the crisis of epileptic power supply in the country.
Senior Pastor, Daystar Christian Centre (DCC), Reverend Sam Adeyemi, led the peaceful protest to the office of Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) in Ikeja, where a protest letter was submitted to President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua through the governor.
Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Mrs. Oluwayemisi Ajayi accepted the letter on behalf of Fashola who was at the state council meeting and promised to deliver the letter to the governor.
Speaking at the State Secretariat yesterday, the senior pastor asked the federal government to break the monopoly of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria and allow private investors and state governments to generate and distribute electricity.
He also sought an end to all forms of deal-cutting in the award and execution of contracts, which he described as the bane of socio-economic and political development in the country after 49 years of her political independence.
Adeyemi condemned the vandalisation and theft of power cable and transformers, dishonesty and the greedy acquisition of money taking place in government ministries, departments and agencies in all states of the federation.
He said such practice might attract curses on individuals and the nation, adding that “to prosper as a nation, corruption cannot be an option for us. Let us seize this opportunity to develop alternative sources of energy, tapping into our God-given resources like coal, wind and solar energy among others.
“We call on the Federal Government to break the monopoly of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and allow private investors and state governments to generate and distribute electricity. The strategy that worked for telecommunications should be made to work for power supply,” he said.
Harping on the impact of epileptic power supply on individual lives and corporate organisations, Adeyemi explained that the crisis of irregular power supply “is impoverishing us as individual, as organisations and as a nation. “Precious lives have been lost to explosion caused by kerosene and petrol. Whole families have died in their sleep because of fumes from power generating sets.
Small and large businesses have folded up because of their inability to sustain the high cost of production. The list of woes goes on and on,” he added.
He, therefore, asked the federal government to deregulate the power sector to allow private power-generating companies, adding that it had proved effective in the telecommunications sector.
According to him, “if there is no limit on the number of phone lines a telecommunications company should generate, there should be no limit on the volume of power a company should generate and distribute around the country. “States in the Niger Delta region who have gas flared in their backyards should generate, distribute and sell electricity locally and nationally. This will result in job creation in almost all facets of life in our nation,” the pastor explained.
Speaking on behalf of Fashola after receiving the protest letter from the senior pastor, Ajayi, agreed that regular electric supply was crucial to the survival of individual lives, corporate organisations and government ministries, departments and agencies in different levels.
According to her, if we have light, there will be development in the country. We are in support of regular power supply because it will catalyse economic growth and development. I will deliver the protest letter to the governor who will relay the objective of the 10,000-man protest to President Yar’Adua.

First I am not a member of Daystar but i actually Listen to Pastor Adeyemi's teaching which are very helpful and useful for everyday activities. This is a good development as it will benefit the whole populace and not just members of his church and it does not seem like a publicity stunt to me.

I believe if the "Heavyweights" in the Religion sector of our economy follow this model then maybe . just maybe.

But will the likes of Pastor Chris.Pastor Adeboye.TB Joshua.Bishop Oyedepo . Kumuyi and so on do something of a similar nature and challenge the government ? Have they ever done something of a similar nature ?

Kudos to Daystar. Well done.

Lovely. This march/protest should be done more often because i foresee that this one march may not accomplish anything.

@Vicade: I also hope that more 'men of God' take it upon themselves to fight for these things. Tunde Bakare is doing his own part. I dont know what the others (Adeboye, Oyedepo and co) will say they are doing, sitting in their mansions and enjoying life with helicopters, planes, jeeps and co - while the average man suffers.

The Local Church is the hope of the world. Other churches should emuluate this. Imagine what will happen if all the churches would cme out on sunday instead of church service and stad in frront of the villa and say we want Aoondooka out

Glory to God Finally people are taking the initiative instead of waiting for God to act.

Good step. Faith without works is dead