society
Electricity And Minister Adelabu’s Peculiar Mess: A Short Story By Felix Oboagwina
Electricity And Minister Adelabu’s Peculiar Mess: A Short Story
By
Felix Oboagwina
“Welcome, Sir!” chorused the small gathering of guys seated at the door of the Barber’s shop, as I stopped in front of Ade’s salon. He is my regular barber. At his shop, I maintain this Saturday ritual in preparation for Sunday church service and the coming week.
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“Come in! Let Oga pass!” said Ade, extracting himself from the midst of three other people seated on benches and chairs in the semi-darkness of a gloomy evening. They angled their legs to let me through.
“Are you sure you can barb my hair?” I fired at Ade in sarcastic laughter. NEPA had struck some seven hours earlier that morning. “Is your generator working today?”
“He is ready for business,” someone from the gathering said. His pals roared with laughter.
“Then, he has become truly born-again!” I responded. “I just decided to try my luck here first, before moving on to other salons. These days, you show up here for a haircut and Ade’s generator has packed up or he couldn’t get fuel to buy at any station –no fuel even when it’s costly.”
More laughter poured forth.
“Today is different, Sir!” someone testified for Ade.
He soon settled me into the seat, with his Barber’s sheet clamped down by a single clip around my shoulders. What’s happening? Shouldn’t he first put on his small I-better-pass-my-neighbour generator? Power failure was NEPA’s bad habit here in this Alimosho area of Lagos. This particular axis got supplied by the relatively reliable 33kva transmission station. Like most days, however, today, power had disappeared around 8.30 that Saturday morning. Now it was about 3pm and NEPA still kept the supply switch on OFF.
Pushing the twin sliding doors to one side to catch the dimming embers of daylight, Ade, from his drawer, produced a wireless clipper and quickly went to work on my head. Despite the pain his clippers usually dealt to my head and face, Ade was so courteous that I found myself returning to him, even when I silently cursed his clippers and vowed that each session would be my last of subjecting my head to this torture. But I usually broke that vow. Ade had this condescending, humble mien that attracted you. Plus, I found him chatty and got to hear local gossip while he worked.
“I had to buy another wireless clipper,” he said. “Hope you don’t feel pain.”
Like hell, I did! Nevertheless, I responded: “Just continue! Maybe the pain will lessen as you go on.”
“Sorry, Sir,” he consoled me. He lifted the reaper off my head and made some adjustments. Soon the wireless clipper returned, only to continue torturing my poor head. My face contorted in anguish. Stockholm syndrome, I have fallen in love with my tormentor. After a moment of silence, Ade spoke again: “I had to buy this second-hand clipper. They won’t give us light and they increase the tariff. Sir, do you know these Ikeja DisCo (IKEDC) people have pushed us into Band A, by force by fire?”
“Yes, I received their SMS!”
From June 1, despite government’s assurances it would not happen, electricity consumers in that Lagos neighbourhood woke up to their worst nightmare –the Ikeja Distribution Company (IKEDC) slammed a higher tariff on them. The DisCo did not even have the decency to notify customers. Its terse message came days only after subscribers noticed the rise in fresh purchases. I myself got the IKJELECTRIC message at 11.59am, 05/06/2024:
Dear Esteemed Customer. Please be informed that due to a recent feeder upgrade and consequent in power supply in your location, your tariff class has been moved from Band B to Band A. Thank you for allowing us to serve you.
Ade said: “Now Ikeja DisCo is charging N1,000 for 4 units instead of for 14 units. They have robbed us of an entire 10 units per N1,000. Just like that! Wicked people!”
Initially priced at N225/kHz in that unpopular nationwide increase, Band A services were later slashed to N206.80/kHz. Even then, IKEDC charges customers the unapproved old rate of N225/kHz unit. Electricity used to cost N66/kHz. Much worse is that customers don’t even get the light. In this rainy season, the light immediately disappears with the littlest breeze blowing.
Ade said: “Today, they took light around 8am. And this is 3pm, they have not restored it. The same thing they did yesterday –from morning to evening, the light just went off. We couldn’t even see light to work or do anything throughout the day. People doing power-related business here run generators all through the day; yet they push us to Band A.”
I chipped in: “Ade, you don’t know what pains me most? We have this Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who appears to be fish out of water in that ministry. With a background in accounting and banking, this Minister does not consider citizens’ interests at all. He appears to be more concerned about assisting DisCos to make unjustified profit. He wants to satisfy these Shylocks, whose interest is not to render service but to rip off longsuffering consumers without rendering commensurate service.
“How will rain be falling and you switch off power? Haba! When they do, they don’t restore electricity for that entire day or several days. Any organisation interested in generating money won’t let that happen. Check out electricity firms abroad, during the worst of snowstorms or rainstorms, they ensure that electricity remains available without any break. In fact, it is said that people will freeze to death should power go off in winter. Do their own power suppliers have two heads ni?”
Ade responded: “Shameless DisCos!”
I went on: “Some weeks back, they interviewed the Power Minister on TVC –the television station owned by President Bola Tinubu. The man described himself as an Accountant. But he struck me as one of these pampered boys, whose father left with a sizable inheritance. Of course, he is the grandson of Adelabu, that Ibadan politician they called ‘Penkelemesi.’”
Ade said: “Oh, you must mean, Adedibu, the strong man of Ibadan politics under PDP.”
I replied: “Noooo! I mean Adelabu! Adegoke Adedibu is different from Lamidi Adelabu.”
The Barber said: “No wonder! No true son of Adedibu will do what this guy is doing. Adedibu was in touch with commoners. God rest his soul. Adedibu, with his Amala Politics, had a heart for the masses. Adedibu knew where the shoe pinched. No son of Adedibu will come into office and increase the suffering of the masses. This Adelabu is collaborating with DisCos to do what his father called PECULIAR MESS in the nation’s power sector.”
I replied: “Don’t mind him. Adedibu apparently sees his assignment as robbing Nigerians to pay the DisCos. He has turned himself into DisCos’ marketing executive.”
Sounding angry, Ade chipped in: “I wonder o! How can a Minister of Power be saying Nigerians like to leave on their fridge and air conditioners 24/7; and that Nigerians waste electricity this way? How does a seller complain that his customers consume too much? He should have been sacked instantly! Can a salt seller be complaining that people are over-salting food, therefore his stock finishes too fast? Is it not logical that the more salt you sell the more money you make?
“Maybe Adelabu will be happy if we kuku return to using clay pots for cool water.”
I said: “Hospitals responded to that his ridiculous statement. They educated him that some drugs, medications and even blood needed refrigerated preservation in real time at a particular temperature; and any drop in temperature would destroy them. What of mortuaries? What of industries? Many run three shifts. You can bet that this Minister will say they should cut down on their shifts in order to reduce the load on the grid. A colossal misfit! Talk about putting square pegs in round holes. In a country overflowing with engineers, Tinubu chooses an Accountant to supervise Power and Electricity. This peculiar mess is the result.”
Ade said: “Oga, sebi you be journalist; help us tell government say make dem reverse dis high tariff and return the old rates. Those old rates were even over-priced by these yeye DisCos.”
I said: “Even if people write, will they hear? They have only ears for songs that DisCos sing. Instead of pandering to DisCos’ demand to raise tariffs, the government should be pushing them to embark on expanding their distribution networks and exploring new markets –horizontal growth of more customers instead of vertical growth of higher tariffs. Isn’t that how the telecoms are making their huge profits despite lowering airtime price? In this country, DisCos have a massive market waiting to be served with electricity. More profit will come not with higher tariffs, but with more customers and greater efficiency. Isn’t that the simple rule of demand and supply?”
Ade said: “Oga, I am completely lost with all your grammar. You know say me na ordinary Barber. Write am make dem read am.”
I laughed. He removed the sheet from my shoulders; and I handed him the usual fee for his service.
Ade gave a shy smile: “Sorry, Sir, our price has changed! New tariff, new price!”
FELIX OBOAGWINA IS A JOURNALIST AND HE LIVES IN LAGOS
TO THE BUTCHER OF KAIAMA
BY Chief Femi Fani-Kayode
“His words were as smooth as butter yet war was in his heart”- Psalm 55: 21.
To Sadiku, the Butcher of Kaiama, I write the following.
I watched a video that provided graphic and disturbing evidence of your murderous activities.
You are the homicidal maniac and accursed soul that led the cowardly attack on our people in Kaiama where you massacred over 200 innocent Nigerians of both the Muslim and Christian faith even as they were praying.
Christians were burnt in their Churches and Muslims were burnt in their mosques.
People that ran to hide in their houses were hacked into pieces and burnt in their homes with their families.
Women and children were shot, macheted and burnt alive even as they prayed.
You used up all your bullets then you resorted to using machetes and cudgels to finish the job.
We know the vampiric forces and satanic entities that you serve, what they do with the blood, what they gain from it’s shedding and what they seek to achieve.
We know the dark spirits and demonic cult that use and possess you, that operate in the astral plain and that are known as the hidden hand.
You are not a leader and you are nowhere near the top of your Luciferean high command.
You are nothing but a low-level enforcer, a useful idiot, a shape-shifting reptilian, an expendable tool, an inconsequential pawn and a genocidal butcher that does their bidding and that will burn in hell forever.
Yet despite all your unrelenting wickedness and unprecedented cruelty, not just in Kaiama but everywhere else that you and yours have killed, pillaged, plundered and abducted in our nation, you will NEVER conquer or break the spirit of our people or dismember our nation because God is against you and the ancient boundaries cannot be broken.
You are a servant of Shaitan, the Prince of Darkness yet you know that darkness cannot overcome light and that your time is short.
Now hear this: your end will come soon and it will be worse than that of Abubakar Shekau, Osama Bin Ladin, Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, Abu Musa Al Barnawi and all the other genocidal maniacs and terrorists put together.
You are a man of blood and you will end in blood. You lived by the sword and you will die by the sword.
You killed our people though they did you no harm and though they were innocent and defenceless.
You slaughteted our women and children without pity or mercy.
You killed our soldiers with impunity despite their courage and gallantry.
You targetted our elders and traditional rulers despite their appeals and in spite of all their efforts.
You killed the Christians and you killed the Muslims even as they worshipped and prayed to God.
It is in the same way that you and the cruel hordes of Mordor that march with you shall be killed without mercy.
The innocent blood you have shed shall speak against you and yours before God in Heaven, the Sword of the Lord shall cut you and yours to pieces and the East Wind of destruction shall scatter and blow you and yours away from generation to generation.
The Bible says there is no peace for the wicked and therefore you shall have no peace: neither shall your lineage or anyone that has your blood excel.
The Bible says “touch not my anointed and do my Prophets no harm”: you have touched the anointed of the Lord and done His Prophets harm therefore you shall reap what you have sown.
The Creator of the Universe, the God of Heaven and Earth, the Lord God of Hosts, the Ancient of Days, He that is high and lifted up who holds the world together by the power of His word and He who is irresistible and mighty in battle WILL avenge us and strike you down.
These words are sealed by the Blood of Yeshua and cannot be altered or resisted.
Your end shall be worse than that of Sennacherub, Pharaoh, Herod, Jezebel and Goliath.
I say to you today that you are the uncircumcised Philistine that has chosen to defy the Armies of the Living God and like the uncircumcised Philistine that David slew you shall be slain before the eyes of the world, we shall see your rotting corpse spread across the field of battle and your entire bloodline shall be brought to an end.
I, Sadauki, have spoken these words and so it shall be in the mighty name of Yeshua HaMashiach, the God whose I am and the God whom I serve.
To our people I say do not be detered, do not be dismayed and do not be afraid for the Lord our God is with us.
I say the Egyptians we see today, we shall see them no more.
I say fight the good fight with all thy might without regret or relenting in the knowledge that good always prevails over evil.
I say seek victory and achieve it for our nation, for our women, for our children and for future generations yet unborn.
This we must do and God will give us the strength and courage to do it.
For our great nation Nigeria it is LIFE, VICTORY and a NEW and GREAT beginning but for ISWAP, Ansaru, Boko Haram, Lakurawa and the Legions of Hell behind them, it is DEATH, DEFEAT and DESTRUCTION.
Peace, joy, abundance, prosperity, hope, strength, courage, love, unity, long life, all manner of blessings and a glorious and expected end is our future and our portion and nothing can change it.
Whether it be affliction, trial, tribulation, persecution, infirmity, pain, loss, suffering, lack, incarceration, torture, humiliation or even death, as the Book of Romans 8: 31-39 said, NOTHING can separate us from the love of the Lord and nothing can negate or break the sure word and promises of Christ Jesus.
He is is our strength, our shield, our glory and the lifter of our heads.
He SHALL see us through and deliver us from the hand of the heathen and bloodthirsty and evil men.
I conclude with the words of Psalm 35:1,
“O Lord, contend against those who contend against us, fight against those who fight against us, take hold of shield and buckler and rise for our help, draw the spear and javelin against our pursuers, say to our souls I am your deliverance”.
So it is and so it shall be in the mighty name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ of Nazareth, son of the Living God!
(Chief Femi Fani-Kayode is a former Minister of Culture and Tourism, a former Minister of Aviation, the Sadaukin Shinkafi, the Wakilin Doka Potiskum, the Otunba of Joga Orile, the Aare Ajagunla of Otun Ekiti and a legal practitioner)
Awujale Succession: Traditionalists Back Gov Abiodun’s Intervention
…Harps On Sanctity, Integrity of The Selection Process
A group of traditionalists in all the towns and villages across Ijebuland has commended the Ogun state Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun for his timely intervention in halting the selection process of the Awujale vacant stool.
The socio-cultural group said the temporary suspension of the process would allow room for critical assessment of the exercise in order to uphold the sanctity and integrity of the highly revered throne.
They made their stance known on Tuesday, January 10, 2026 while addressing journalists at their secretariat in Ijebu Ode.
The traditionalists added that the Governor’s decision was in strict compliance with the 2021 Ogun State Chieftaincy Law “which clearly empowers the government to intervene whenever there are issues capable of undermining the process, fairness and public confidence”.
Speaking at the meeting, Iyalorisa General of Ijebuland, Chief (Mrs) Osoteku Alawiye expressed confidence in the Governor’s action, but noted that a credible and qualified candidate from the ruling house must emerge at the end of the selection process.
According to her, the Awujale stool is one of the most revered traditional institutions in Yoruba land and a paramount stool in Ogun State, and should be accorded a high level dignity it really deserves”, Chief (Mrs) Alawiye added .
They appealed to Gov Abiodun not to listen to detractors who were hell-bent in scuttling the selection process, stressing that as traditionalists, they are also closely monitoring the process so far for the betterment of the entire sons and daughters of Ijebuland.
Funke Akindele, Toyin Abraham’s Box Office Success Result Of Strategic Marketing- Banwo
Dr. Ope Banwo has offered a business-focused explanation for the sustained box-office success of Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham, arguing that their dominance is the result of strategic market alignment rather than luck or social media gimmicks.
Responding to criticism from some veteran actors and filmmakers over cinema promotion styles, Banwo explained that film marketing is ultimately about driving human behaviour—ticket purchases—not preserving dignity or tradition.
“Cinema marketing is not about what feels respectable to producers,” Banwo said. “It’s about what moves people to show up and pay.”
He described Akindele’s success as a textbook example of systems thinking, noting that she combined acting talent with production control, distribution knowledge, audience intelligence, and aggressive marketing.
The result, he said, includes five straight years of box-office leadership, multiple billion-naira cinema runs, and ownership of four of the top five highest-grossing Nollywood films of all time.
Banwo placed Toyin Abraham just behind Akindele, describing her as Gen-Z-literate by strategy rather than age, with a strong grasp of market psychology and audience engagement.
He noted that while some producers rely on third-party funding and pre-sales to streaming platforms, others must recoup investments directly from cinema audiences, making marketing hustle unavoidable.
“The women being criticised are accountable to the market,” Banwo said. “They face the audience directly, and the audience keeps rewarding them.”
Banwo concluded that until alternative strategies consistently outperform the current box-office leaders, criticism should give way to data-driven analysis.
“In cinema, the scoreboard does not lie,” he said. “And right now, the market has spoken.”
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