To prioritize power supply talks with higher state and federal authorities
By Morgan Hakeem Onikoyi
In the usually calm town of Omu-Aran, Kwara State, darkness fell, not only over homes, but also over hearts and hopes when a sudden and unilateral reclassification by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) plunged the town into a new electricity tariff band: Band A. The move, abrupt and unannounced, ushered in an astronomical hike in electricity bills, despite no visible improvement in supply. This provoked confusion, outrage, and deep unrest among residents, as weeks passed in darkness and uncertainty.
Efforts by the traditional institution to resolve the issue met brick walls. His Royal Majesty, Oba Abdulraheem Oladele Adeoti, the Olomu of Omu-Aran, along with his Council, had made frantic efforts: delegations were dispatched to IBEDC regional offices in Ilorin, and even to headquarters in Ibadan; calls were placed to multiple zonal directors. Yet, the people saw little change and grew increasingly impatient, mistaking perseverance for passivity. Frustration festered. Fingers pointed. Tempers rose.
Then came Monday, 26th May 2025. A day that would test the mettle of leadership.
The Spark: A Shop Opening, a Raid, and the Firestorm
What began as a routine celebration, the opening of a shop in one of Omu-Aran’s bustling neighborhoods, suddenly spiraled into violence when armed police officers stormed the event and arrested several young men, claiming they were criminals. To a town already seething over darkness and perceived neglect, this was the final straw.
In minutes, rumors spread like wildfire: “They’ve started arresting us for no reason!” Enraged youths, many already disillusioned and disempowered by the blackout, marched toward the police station in protest. By the time reinforcements arrived, tension had morphed into confrontation. Tyres were set ablaze. Shouts filled the air. Chaos loomed.
Into this storm walked a single man—Hon. Abdulazeez Yakubu Aremu, the Executive Chairman of Irepodun Local Government Area.
The Intervention: Courage in the Face of Crisis
Arriving on foot, unarmed and without escort, Hon. Abdulazeez went directly into the eye of the storm. Eyewitnesses recall a tense moment when a machete wielding enraged youth charged towards, yet he stood his ground. He walked into the station and demanded to speak to the Divisional Police Officer. With firm resolve and calm diplomacy, he negotiated the release of the first group of detainees, urging the police to consider the prevailing tension and wider implications of escalation.
But peace was short-lived. Later that day, a second round of arrests occurred, this time more aggressive and indiscriminate. Over 40 youths, including some passersby and innocent shopkeepers, were whisked away. The situation exploded. Hoodlums hijacked the protest, taking it as an opportunity to vandalize. At one point, burning tyres were laid right at the gate of the Olomu’s palace, a symbolic and dangerous act that shocked many.
Once again, Hon. Abdulazeez leapt into action. Working through the night, he secured the release of the detainees, ensuring each was accounted for. He arranged hotel accommodations for them to rest, provided hot meals, and for those who were wounded by bullets, he ordered immediate medical care at a local clinic and later arranged their transfer to FMC Ido-Ekiti, covering all expenses personally.
Day Two: Women Rise, A Community Responds
By Tuesday, 27th May, the streets bore the signs of unrest: charred asphalt, debris, smoldering tyres. But something else emerged—a silent storm of mothers.
Led by market women, schoolteachers, nurses, and mothers of those detained, hundreds of women marched across Omu-Aran, decrying the arrest of their children, the silence of power authorities, and the town’s week-long blackout. Their voices bore bold statements: “Free Our Sons!” “Bring Back Our Light!”
At the heart of the town, Hon. Abdulazeez met the women mid-march. There were no police barricades, no speeches from a safe distance. He stood with them, listened, took notes, nodded. Then he did something few expected: he invited them to a town-hall forum, scheduled for 4:00 pm that same day, at the LGA Secretariat Hall.
The Forum: From Grievance to Grace
The hall was filled to capacity. Community leaders, religious figures, and the women themselves all spoke, sometimes with fury, sometimes with tears. Two demands rang loudest: Restore electricity. Free the innocent.
As the forum reached its emotional peak, the doors swung open and in walked the over 40 released youths, flanked by officials and greeted with cheers, applause, and heartfelt sobs. Some mothers rushed forward to embrace their sons. Others sank to the floor in gratitude. The entire hall erupted in prayer, calling down blessings on the Chairman.
Hon. Abdulazeez then took the stage and made clear, time-bound commitments:
- To work with HRM Olomu of Omu-Aran and IBEDC to resolve the blackout issue within days.
- To ensure no further unlawful arrests would happen in relation to the crisis.
- To prioritize power supply talks with higher state and federal authorities.
He also disclosed that the Governor of Kwara State had already been briefed and had pledged full support for peace, including direct involvement with IBEDC management.
Day Three: The Peace Conclave
By Wednesday, 28th May, the atmosphere in Omu-Aran had shifted. The Olomu’s palace hosted a peace conclave unlike any in recent history. Attendees included hundreds of women, young girls as well as some youths.
The meeting, moderated jointly by Hon. Abdulazeez and HRM Oba Adeoti, featured frank dialogue and powerful reconciliation moments. Tensions were acknowledged. Forgiveness was exchanged. A path forward was mapped.
The people were promised the blackout would be resolved within a few days, with adjustments being made for fairer billing while the Band A classification was re-evaluated. The Chairman, meanwhile, emerged as the people’s hero, not just a leader in title, but a servant in truth.
The Verdict of the People
In a week that could have descended into anarchy, arson, and bloodshed, what prevailed instead was calm, compassion, and competent leadership.
Hon. Abdulazeez Yakubu Aremu didn’t just show up, he stood firm. He walked into danger, defused rage, healed wounds, and re-centered the community around dialogue and dignity. The Governor’s timely support proved essential, demonstrating how leadership at all levels, when responsive, can prevent tragedy.
And so, in Omu-Aran, the lights are about to flicker back on—not just in homes, but in hearts.
Peace was not a miracle. It was a mission. And one man led the way.
HON. ABDULAZEEZ YAKUBU AREMU (TINUOLA), the People’s Hope!
