The Minister of State Power, Hon Mohammed Wakil has lashed out at the All Progressive Congress and its Vice Presidential candidate, Prof Osibanjo, declaring that ”the opposition is confused over development in the power sector because of ignorance of the happenings in the sector.
The APC lacks any coherent policy on the power sector and is displaying ignorance or mischief over existing policies and programmes in the Power Sector Reform process”, the Minister told journalists after the presidential rally in Maiduguri over the weekend.
Wakil, while reacting to APC vice presidential candidate’s comment, said that Pastor Osibanjo who said APC will allow states to generate electricity and deepen privatisation of the power sector. The Minister of State said, “the APC chieftain and his party lacked basic understanding of the far reaching reform Jonathan presidency has effected in the power sector with the Road-Map launched by Mr. President in 2010.
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“How can a party promise Nigerians that states will be allowed to generate power when states have since been generating power under our Power Sector Reforms? Even Lagos has independent power plant. Many states like, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Bauchi,and many others are already into generation. I think APC should go and read President Goodluck Jonathan’s Power Sector Road Map.
“The party should also go and read the Electricity Power Sector Reform Act of 2005 (EPSR. The Jonathan Administration has privatised the generation and distribution sub-sectors. The transmission is under private sector management even as this has been opened up for private sector investment. The regulatory structure has been set up. We are just fine-tuning post- privatization teething challenges.
“So Pastor Osibanjo goofed with his comments on the power sector reform. It is either the opposition is ignorant or simply mischievous.
We challenge the APC to produce its power sector policy. If it has none ,the party should beware of copyright violations or plagiarism”, the minister said.
Hon Wakil said President Goodluck Jonathan’s power sector reform has been adjudged the best in Sub-Saharan Africa, adding that the PDP power sector programme is the best for the Nigerian nation. “The opposition cannot deny these facts”, he concluded.
Olawale Rasheed
SA Media/HMSP
