By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called on South East Governors to cancel all power contracts with Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) for being an impediment to the development of the region.

The call was contained in a statement by IPOB's Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, on Monday.

It said that EEDC has proven to be incapable of providing reliable, adequate, and affordable electricity to support economic stimulation and growth of the South East, saying, 'The company is just extorting money from the people of the South East without providing reliable electricity"

IPOB urged South East Governors to leverage on the electricity deregulation policy of Tinubu's government and engage other local or foreign electricity generation and distribution companies to take the place of the incompetent company called EEDC.

The statement reads in part: "The current electricity deregulation policy of the Federal Government of Nigeria has given powers to the State Government to generate and distribute power to their state. Therefore, South East Governors must not subject the Eastern Region to darkness in order to please the insatiably greedy company called EEDC and its owner. Electricity is a catalyst for economic development and growth, which Ndigbo must not be denied at a time like this.

"South East Governors have no excuse for not providing reliable and efficient electricity in their States. The time of giving excuses with the monopoly of NEPA, PHCN, or EEDC is over. Now, the Federal Government Electricity deregulation has given them the power to hire and fire any electricity company in their state. Eastern region governors can come together and partner with a reputable power company that can provide steady and affordable electricity for the entire region.

"The governors must ensure that there is adequate electricity in the region without further delay.

"Our attention has been drawn to the unconfirmed letter written to the South East governors, universities, institutions, companies and communities by EEDC to these people and groups mentioned above to come and pay what they did not consume and failure to do so EEDC will shut off their lights.

"We beg EEDC to jettison such idea because we don't want to use force on them and if they want to test the power IPOB possesses, we will let them taste the venom. If they venture to cut any lights in the South East this time around, we will react because we have endured enough. The citizens of the South East are charged to deal with anyone seen as EEDC representatives anywhere in our land who try to shut off people's lights. They must be lynched and they must call any IPOB office close to you with the information.

"EEDC is a big disappointment to the people of the South East Region. They are not showing any sign of repentance or improvement in the electricity distribution, and they failed to provide prepaid meters across the South East Region. Their extortion and incompetency should not be endured any longer. IPOB wants the governors not to allow EEDC to use another company to come back and deceive them, and try to take another contract because EEDC has failed and cannot handle the electricity distribution in the South East Region. PERIOD!

"IPOB wants the governors to take responsibility for providing steady light in the South East Region. The development and progress of the South East is dependent on these conditions.They should stop every unnecessary excuse. IPOB and Ndigbo, in general, have lost confidence in EEDC. Our people must be prepared to chase EEDC out of the region. IPOB is not backing down on plans of ejecting the rogue company called EEDC from the region.

"The South Eastern Governors must wake up and demonstrate their willingness to drive economic development of the East via the provision of steady and affordable electricity by canceling all power deals with incompetent and extortionist- Enugu Electricity Distribution Company – EEDC."