The Progressive Concerned Residents of Akpabuyo/Bakassi and Iman Communities and environs in Calabar, the Cross River State capital have declared their unflinching support for the management of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company Plc PHED ,under the leadership of Mr Collins Igwe and completely disagrees with the ultimatum howsoever issued by any group or group of persons calling for the removal of Engineer Collins Igwe, the Zonal Manager of PHED or revocation of PHED’s operating licence.
The expression of support is sequel to a published article posted on Opera news, on Jan 31, 2022 demanding the resignation of the Zonal Manager of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution (PHED) Plc, Calabar
According to the Progressive Concerned Residents of Akpabuyo/Bakassi and Iman communities and environs, prior to his resumption of office, Akpabuyo LGA was plunged into darkness that lasted for more than two years and residents complained, wept, even protested but to no avail.
A consumer said: “This is politically motivated”. The manager before Collins Igwe did the unbelievable, subjecting the masses to untold hardship and there was no call to revoke PHED license nor the removal of the manager from office even when we embarked on a protest.” Continuing, he said: ” Now, we have a man who is even giving us a listening ear, restored supply to rural areas and now people are calling for his removal. It will not work. This is cheap propaganda and we will not allow it.”
The community expressed the view that some big shots might be behind the propaganda either because they are not paying their bills and may see Collins Igwe as a person who will always come and disconnect them, or they wish to strike a deal with PHED and the manager is not so comfortable with it. They will now call some individuals, and sponsor them for the destructive work they are doing.
The community maintained that Mr Collins Igwe’s team has achieved a lot within a short period of time, noting that his office is open to all. He hears from all sides affected and takes our plight to heart;
They alsso noted that residents enjoyed increased number of hours of light supply. Especially during the festive period and weekends, such that a resident event asked,” Are we still in Nigeria?” because he was surprised to see five days of twenty four hours of uninterrupted power supply.
Again, under the leadership of Collins Igwe, more people receive bills and visit pay point positioned at their doorstep. As bills are properly dispatched. People now rush to pay their bills.
Meanwhile, more communities are expecting their transformers to be commissioned this week sat, Feb 5. 2022, Courtesy of the efforts of Collins Igwe who engaged the residents of the areas recently
Expressing their appreciation, the Iman Community and environs, a community of over 270 compounds recounted their experience before Mr Collins assumed office, noting that his predecessor could not help them even when you consider the security implication of not having power supply in a community hosting the Calabar Custodial Centre. They commended Igwe for collaboration and synergy with the communities.
Therefore, they in clear and strong terms declared that the two hweeks ultimatum is unwarranted, and the information being peddled is untrue and called on the writer of the empty article and his group to withdraw the post and consequently apologize to the PHED Zonal Manager, Calabar who means so well for the residents.
They also announced to the public that the previous post has been debunked. That Collins Igwe is rather facing some challenge from people who do not want to pay their electricity bills or have forgetten that any energy consumed must be accounted for.