By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Renowned human rights activist and Convener of the Recover Nigeria Project, Comrade Osita Obi, has called for the immediate resignation of the Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, over what he described as the minister’s failure to guarantee stable electricity supply to Nigerians even during the Christmas season.
In a reaction issued on Friday, Obi condemned the recurring power outages experienced across the country at a time traditionally associated with increased energy demand, family gatherings and boom in economic activities. He described the situation as unacceptable and symptomatic of deeper leadership and capacity challenges within the power sector.
According to Obi, Nigerians were “given darkness instead of light during this festive period,” arguing that the inability of the Power Ministry to ensure improved electricity supply during Yuletide celebrations reflects a lack of preparedness and vision. He insisted that the current state of affairs has further compounded the hardship already being faced by households and small businesses.
The activist maintained that in a functional and accountable system, the Minister should not wait for public pressure before stepping down from the position. He said the Power Minister ought to “resign and tender an unreserved apology to Nigerians,” stressing that leadership demands responsibility, especially when outcomes fall far below public expectations.
Obi further questioned and criticized Adelabu’s suitability for the role, asserting that the Minister lacks the capacity required to head such a critical sector of the economy. Describing the appointment as a mismatch, he said the Minister is “a square peg in a round hole,” and argued that the Power sector requires visionary leadership capable of addressing Nigeria’s long-standing electricity challenges.
He noted that electricity supply is central to economic productivity, national development and quality of life, adding that persistent outages, particularly during festive periods, undermine public confidence in government and worsen social frustration.
“In a civilised clime, he should not wait for a call for his resignation before throwing in the towel. The man has no vision and capacity to lead a ministry like power ministry. He is a square peg in a round hole,” Obi concluded.
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