I am afraid!
This guy must not fail.
The joy that heralded his nomination in July 2023 as a minister evaporated immediately the portfolio was mentioned in August, 2023, the Honourable Minister of Power!
To allay my fears, I quickly searched for the core duties of this post holder and I discovered:
MISSION: To generate, distribute and transmit electricity nationwide, facilitate the provision of adequate and affordable electricity for all Nigerians in both urban and rural areas.
Whaoo, I was thrown off balance knowing fully well that the major challenges of we impatient Nigerians is electricity. An average Nigerian had high hopes of having regular unhindered, uninterrupted power supply, even if the supply must come from heaven. Nigerians can’t wait.
My fears were borne out of the understanding of the challenges before this highly cerebral young man but does he possess the wherewithal of the requirements which could help him survive the bottlenecks inimical to this plagued ministry?
Many questions crossed my mind with no one to provide me with the answers.
In one of my WhatsApp messages to Chief Adebayo Adelabu who is also known as Penkele in the political circle, precisely the one dated 17th August, I prayed for God to give him the POWER and CAPACITY to deliver the required Power and electricity for Nigerians. I believe he would understand the essence of my prayers.
Why this ministry?
Why not his area of speciality?
Was it a plot to retire him out of politics?
Was it a plot to challenge his capacity?
Was this intentional to roughen his feathers?
But why would the Jagaban plan to throw his boy in front of the moving locomotive engine?
Why this?
Why that?
What happens?
Many whys and whats occupied my mind but no one to share my thoughts with………my people , the Yorubas in their very rich wisdom would say, “bi erù ba ko òkè, bi O ba ko ilè, O ni ibi Aa gbee kà” ( there is always a place for a load that doesn’t fit into the upper level neither the lower level) . I ended up praying for him.
Let me quickly state clearly here that Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Penkele and myself do not belong to the same political camp other than anything Ibadanism. As I always tell people that my Nigerian identity starts from Ibadan First!, then Yemetu Adeoyo irridentist. In everything, Ibadan comes FIRST and that has been my ONLY main relationship, if at all, with Bayo Adelabu, the Honourable Minister of Power.
The humongous notable saboteurs especially in the power sector will make all efforts in ensuring a novice like Chief Adelabu in the power sector ends up without any success. This we can’t over emphasize.
The powerful stakeholders and players in importing and distributions of heavy duty industrial generators are another threat.
The highly corruptible civil servants in his ministry would surely exploit Chief Adelabu’s ignorance of the Power sector and while this is going on, the impatient Nigerians , living in darkness will have no more than to go for Bayo’s jugular. That is where our man needs our prayers and support.
What I personally observe as inherent with Chief Adelabu is both lack of adequate communication or, and improper use of words. Another Ajuri Ngelale will surely help him in his regard. Our brother is not a good communicator. We should tell him this please.
The outsiders have started measuring Ibadans capacity with Bayo Adelabu’s performances. If he succeeds, they will say Ibadan man succeed and if otherwise, they will come heavy on us and abuse us badly. Bayo must not fail therefore. He must perform .
He must let the Nigerians know how far he has gone to mitigate the power problems and cry out for help where necessary. His quietness and usage of wrong words are not soothing to the ears of the people living in darkness. Nigerians aren’t happy.
Bayo’s initiative of classifying us into Bands A, B, C, D, E and F in power supply is not only strange but anti-people. According to the dictates of his ministry mission, he must generate, distribute and transmit electricity nationwide, facilitate the provision of adequate and affordable electricity for all Nigerians in both urban and rural areas irrespective of their social status. (Italics mine).
If eventually our Brother , Chief Bayo Adelabu is moved into another portfolio or retained in the Power ministry, we should intensify our supports, physical , spiritual and psychological and himself should learn and be prepared to be receipient of valuable advice and wisdom from elders. The Ibadan Elders has so much work to do on their son at this time. He deserves all our supports as well as heaven’s support.
I pray he will not be the only Ibadan man to be favoured in this dispensation because of massive supports we Ibadans lavished at the polls at the last general election that brought Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu into the office.
God bless Nigeria
God bless Ibadanland
May Ibadan excel…….
Balogun Gaphar Babatunde Ojetola
N4/144 Agbo Ile Aare Òjè
Adeoyo, Ibadan