It is apparent that the electricity bill brought to me last week Friday, February 17, 2017 for the month of January had to do with the article published in this column last month, on January 18, 2017 titled: Time Senate gives Discos pre-paid meter supply deadline. A piece I wrote following protest marches by consumers, some of them in their 60s and 70s, in the Ketu – Ikosi areas of Lagos and Sapele in Delta State for two reasons. The first was to stop consumers getting arbitrarily prepared provocative bills beyond the electricity they used. The other was to prevent a situation in which because of this people will start attacking the staff of the Electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) in different parts of the country, and which in instances may lead to death.
It was to avoid such a grisly development in the interest of the innocent workers of the Discos that I suggested that the National Assembly should get the Federal Government to give the companies a deadline to supply pre-paid meters to those yet to be served. Recommending that if the Discos do not have the money to get the meters they can take bank loans since they have ready – made buyers and would therefore be able to easily pay off the amounts borrowed. And that if any of them cannot supply pre – paid meters by the deadline given, the services of such Disco should be turned over to a company that can perform.
The day after my article came out a staff of the Ikeja Disco who disconnects electricity supply to fee – owing consumers was in my house to check if my meter had been tampered with. He found nothing amiss. But last week in their second reaction, they brought me an outrageous bill which confirms that what they sometimes serve people are cooked up figures. The current charges in the bill I was served in December 2016 for the previous month of November was one thousand three hundred and forty-one naira and ninety kobo (N1, 341:90). The one they gave me in the first week of January for December billing was one thousand nine hundred and sixty – eight naira and twelve kobo (N1, 968:12). But the one they brought last week Friday for January 2017, thirty days after my column of January 18 was published, was seven thousand six hundred and ninety-three naira and fifty – six kobo (N7, 693:56).
I have not acquired any new gadgets, appliances or equipment in my house since the bill for December 2016 was brought. Apart from this, the electricity supply to my area, as with many other parts of Lagos, has been worse in the last one month that we had no electricity service for one or two days in each of the four weeks and when available not for more than eight hours in a day. Some staff of the company told me this was caused by a major problem in the Alimoso area of Lagos. With this situation of system breakdown, is it therefore not glaring that it was my column of January 18 that made the Ikeja Disco serve me a bill of N7, 693:56 for last month? Which is five thousand six hundred and twenty – five naira and forty – four kobo (N5, 625:44) more than the bill for the previous month of December 2016. And six thousand three hundred and fifty – one naira and sixty – six kobo above that of November.
Since theirs is a malicious action it is certain they will keep upping their bill month after month under the guise of improved electricity situation in the country. This is why I am appealing to the Honourable Minister of Power, Housing and Works, Barrister Babatunde Fasola to come to my aid and get the Ikeja Disco to stop giving me fabricated bills, return my current charges for January 2017 to the sum of N1, 968:12 I paid for December 2016. And to refund the excess I would pay for the N7, 693:56 kobo bill I was given for last month. I also urge the Minister to get the Discos in the country to make pre – paid meters available before the end of this year.
If action is not taken in time, the day may come when angry consumers, especially the masses, will start attacking the staff of the Discos and their property and those of the Federal, State and Local Governments in their areas. The French and Russian revolution of the 19th and 20th centuries respectively were caused by little incidents, I pray the issue of pre – paid meter will not throw up such a situation in Nigeria.
Lesson from ex–chief judge’s demise
I was shocked to learn around mid – day on Sunday, January 1 from Ambassador Labake Ilemia, a retired diplomat, that Ile – Ife – born Justice (Mrs.) Gladys Olubunmi Olateru – Olagbegi (PhD Law), our classmate in the Ibadan Grammar School 1963 – 64 Higher School Certificate set and former Chief Judge of Ondo State (2003 – 10), who was admitted to the University College Hospital, Ibadan over a swollen leg passed on earlier that day. She was a contract-engaged senior lecturer in the Faculty of Law at the Afe Babalola University, Ado – Ekiti at the time of her transition.
I never heard of anyone die of foot problem until I phoned an Ife prince who told me two of his own brothers also died of such an ailment. This made me to contact a medical practitioner friend of mine in Lagos who told me that people die of such an affliction. And therefore advised that anyone who has a swollen leg should press the ankle of the affected foot with a finger and if it takes minutes before the depression returns to normal, then the person should go and see a doctor immediately. As it is an indication of a kidney or heart problem and which could lead to death, if not speedily attended to. So, take note of this and tell others. As they say, a stitch in time saves nine.
There are two interesting and uncommon things about departed Justice (Mrs.) Olateru – Olagbegi and my family. She and my wife were born on October 26. She in 1945 and my spouse in 1954. The other one is that one of my daughters was born on Sunday, December 31, 1978 about fifteen minutes to January 1, 1979. While she went to glory on Sunday, January 1, this year, a few hours after the mid – night of December 31, 2016.
Also as was the case with my father forty – five years ago, she too passed on at University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan and tomorrow, February 23, when she will be laid to rest in Ibadan was the day my old man joined the Saints Triumphant in 1972.
My condolences go to her husband, Prince Adebanji Olateru – Olagbegi of Owo, Ondo State and their children. God bless Bunmi’s soul and grant her the grace of His Kingdom. So, it’s goodbye until we meet again in the hereafter.
Professor Anele’s Faux Pas on Bible Authors returns next week