In what appears to be one of his rare comments on social media, a retired judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Taiwo Obafemi Taiwo on Wednesday used his Facebook page to decry the poor state of electricity in Nigeria, and also the poor condition of living of her citizens.
“It is 4am now. Our inverter shut down at exactly 15mins ago. This means we’ve not had electricity paid for when we purchased units from one if the accredited distribution companies. This has been the trend now for a longtime. Everybody is quiet! Those who can afford to buy diesel at the price now are not complaining because they have the money. Those that have their companies supplying them diesel are not complaining and also public servants in the high echelon are not complaining because they have free diesel being supplied to them free of charge from the taxes people pay!”, he said.
Justice Taiwo ever before he became a judge can be regarded as a radical lawyer and bar man. He was a second Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association(NBA), and led the Lagos branch of the association as it’s chairman before he was appointed to the Federal High Court bench.
He said further: “Millions of people are forgotten by those in charge of providing electricity to all of us, because they can afford to buy at whatever price or are supplied free of charge. It appears the government is not prioritising giving light to the people. They prefer us to grope in darkness. They are not concerned at all, otherwise why is nobody talking to us about the problems they are encountering?;
Prices of foodstuffs, basic and non basic amenities are hitting the roof and nobody is talking. It appears we are either used to suffering or programmed to suffer..
What is happening gan gan na? Why are we suffering in the midst of plenty of what would give us affordable electricity. This is not a matter of belonging to the ruling party or the opposition. It appears no one cares. It appears we are all carried away by the razzmatazz of governance!
This is very sad. For me, it seems there are some diabolical powers, though in human form, working against attainment of cheap electricity and at all times for us in this country. For how long are we going to depend on generators in this country? For how long will we be held ransome to the powers behind selling and distribution of generators?
Are our government officials not ashamed of this situation? What goes through their minds when they travel abroad and they see constant electricity?
Are they callous or don’t care at all? Why then is politics about the people to provide good life for them? We should be ashamed that watching TV, especially at this period of world Cup competition, we are confronted with massive advertisement of generators!
When are we going to be free from the hands of shylocks? When will people be called to order for not doing their job in this critical sector of our daily lives and economy?
Let Those who can afford it and thus unconcerned pity the millions who cannot afford to even buy the cheapest generator! They should have compassion on us. After all, it appears whatever they do with public funds, they are doing us a favour!
Please let there be light now and not at the end of the tunnel! ARE WE NOT ASHAMED ?
Justice Taiwo retired in 2022.
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