06/05/2020
One pet project I was so passionate about, was sensitizing our people on the proper usage of the free electricity given to all of us graciously.
It hurts that our people were not protecting the power infrastructures in their localities. To keep mute is not a patriotic act, so I decided to talk about the problem and I also took action.
As people living in a modern world, we have not been patriotic enough to safeguard and defend what we have. We are a people of I- don't- care attitude. Seriously, we don't know much about the obligation citizens owe their communities and Nation. Our level of ignorance is dwarfing.
Why keep the security lights on your buildings on, and why keep the lights in your living rooms and bedrooms on, when you don't need them in the day time?
And why are the sockets of your appliances on, at a time you are not using them? Why are the electric bulbs on your buildings and business places on, during day time? What for?
When you switch- off your electric lights during day time, and when the sockets of your appliances are switched off when not in use, you have helped save power. And by so doing, you have prolonged the lifespan of the power infrastructures in Ogbaland.
God Almighty has mercifully given humans natural light which brightens all corners of the earth during daybreak, so our electricity bulbs shouldn't be on, in day time of sunshine.
When our electric lights are switched off during day time, and our appliances switch- off when we don't need them, the power generating machines experience low temperature and relief.
The electricity machines cannot be on high voltage all the time. It should have a period of cooling down. For the machines to have a long life span and function efficiently, it is obligatory for citizens to use electricity wisely.
There is too much power wastage in the land. Conservation of power is not in Ogba's system. Because most of us do not have an idea of what it entails to pay abnormal electricity bills, so we arrogantly misuse the power freely given to us.
I embarked on the selfless task of preaching the sermon of " switch- off your lights during day time" to the good people of Ogbaland.
Yours sincerely went to streets, homes, markets, shops, offices, hotels and institutions begging the people to save our power infrastructures by making frantic effort to " switch off" the lights and appliances when not useful.
I educated our people and pleaded with them to make just this little contribution to the betterment of our communities. I begged the people to be responsible and discipline citizens because the people of the world are mocking us.
It wasn't an easy job at all. The people saw me as an intruder. They asked whether I was an official of the council. I said to them that I'm just an ordinary citizen like them who is concerned that power is misused in Ogbaland.
Not really surprised to hear AGIP complain that the machines producing electricity for our consumption have collapsed. As a people; what contributions did we make toward the protection of our power infrastructures? Why should all the blames be heaped on the head of Agip? Are we not the people who waste power?.
Did the government, groups or the educated class consider it a worthwhile venture to educate and enlighten Ogba people on the proper use of power?
What most of us care much about in Ogbaland is how to become a leader in order to embezzle public funds like Felix Obuah and his cohorts.
Ugorji Obieti