Constituents Tackle Edo Speaker Over Failed Electricity Promise 

Residents of Sobe community, Owan West local government area of Edo State have lambasted the speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, over failed promises to restore electricity to the area.

Sobe has been without electricity supply for over eight years but the community members said Agbebaku had been giving them hope in the past three years.

In a letter addressed to Agbebaku and signed by Prince Ogbeta Joseph, the community said the only promise that had been consistently fulfilled by Agbebaku was the assurance that they should “be patient.”

The letter said patience has not brought electricity, jobs, development, or renewed hope to the people.

According to the letter, “What hurts even more is that when we reminded you of the promises you made to Sobe, we were met with words that many considered deeply disappointing. You challenged us to contest for the House of Assembly ourselves if we wanted to end the over eight years of darkness in our community.

“Mr. Speaker, during the Sobe Day celebration last September, you publicly promised a donation of N1 million to the community, just as you had done two years earlier. You also assured us that you would work with the governor to restore electricity to Sobe before December. Today, we are approaching another August, yet our community remains in total darkness.

“This letter is not written to attack your person or diminish your achievements. It is a sincere appeal from a loyal community asking only for fairness, inclusion, and the fulfilment of promises freely made.”

“Sobe is not asking for special treatment. We are only asking not to be forgotten.”

In his response, Speaker Agbebaku said the Sobe electrification project has not been abandoned and remained an active priority that he has consistently pursued as the representative of the people.

Agbebaku said the due process demanded that the project is captured in the State Budget before execution could commence.

He said, “The project is a major capital infrastructure undertaking that involves extending electricity from Sabongidda-Ora to Sobe. Owing to its scale and the huge financial commitment required, the necessary technical assessments and quotations have already been completed and submitted to the appropriate authorities.

“Consequently, the project is being processed for inclusion in the forthcoming 2027 fiscal year budget, which will be presented later this year.”

In another engagement with a facebook user over the Sobe electrification project, Speaker Agbebaku said he installed solar street lights in Sobe.

According to him, “You no reach to contest make you give Sobe light? I be BEDC? Na so una dey talk any how. You no know where BEDC dey make you complain to them?

“The solar light wen I put for Sobe, you no see that one? Na to come social media dey talk nonsense.”