Geometric Power Limited, Nigeria’s foremost integrated power firm, has just scored a bull’s eye by going out of its way to reconcile two groups of residents in a housing estate in Aba, the Abia State’s economic nerve centre, where it is based.
The crisis in the Silent Spring Estate, comprising at least 52 houses of various sizes, has recorded some casualties, including a 45-year old importer and philanthropist, Emeka Ugwueze, who was from Achalla in Awka North Local Government Area in Anambra State. He was felled down by bullets from thugs last 15 December. His remains are still in the morgue as the police investigate the matter.
“Mr Ugwueze was the greatest benefactor to the Silent Spring Neighbourhood Association, as the residents association is known, and his tragic death and the cases of other persons shot by thugs have helped to drive the point that Geometric Integrated Power has been making to the group that the peaceful resolution of the bitter crisis is the way to go”, said a senior lawyer in Aba, Bob Chukwueke, who is the legal consultant to Geometric Group.
The factions in the estate have been fighting over electricity issues. “This fact made it imperative for Geometric Power group, which has since the past 12 months been supplying electric power to Aba and many other places in the state, to step into the violent dispute and help resolve it amicably”, Chukwueke further said.
One of the factions is led by a businessman, Chiadikobi Ajonu, who is chairman of the residents association founded in 2013; and the other by first secretary of the association, Chuks Nwachukwu, who sued Ajonu and the group in three matters at the Abia State High Court. The first action is over the collection of levies from the residents for the 300/11KVA distribution transformer serving the estate, which was made possible by a lawyer and erstwhile member of the Abia State House of Assembly, Solomon Akpulonu.
The second is over the collection of levies for the maintenance of the transformer.
An electricity committee was created by the residents association as part of the strategy for the safeguarding and maintenance of basic infrastructure in the area. The electricity committee, in turn, set up a task force to ensure the religious payment of the levies.
The task force used all manner of methods to extract the dues from the residents. Somewhere along the line, some residents, however, felt swindled. They consider the payments illegal, arguing that neither the former legislator nor the association has the right to collect such levies because they are not licensed to do so. They consequently brought the matter to the attention of the Aba Electricity Distribution Company, Nigeria’s newest electricity distribution firm which provides electricity to nine out of the 17 local government areas in Abia State.
“Those who reported the matter to Aba DisCo (Distribution Company) did the right thing”, noted an engineer, Air Commodore Nicholas Orjiudeh (rtd.). “Only Aba Power is licensed to supply electric power, maintain the power infrastructure and collect revenue from it in the Aba Ring-Fenced Area. It is unfortunate that a lot of people have been acting in utter ignorance while a few others who know are also involved in the illegality because of their personal pecuniary interests”.
A former Deputy Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Reguis Amaechi, who is on the staff of the Geometric Security Service, shares Orjiudeh’s view, praising the factions for “now toeing the path of reason and peace”.
Chukwueke is thankful to the attorneys of the feuding parties for convincing their principals to opt for an out-of-court settlement. “I am so delighted that my brother lawyers and friends, namely Ukpai Ukairo, attorney to Chuks Nwachukwu; and B. C. Nwokoro, attorney to the Silent Spring Neighbourhood Association; for their great understanding and admirable role”. He also lauded the then Divisional Police Officer for Osisioma, Chief Superintendent Joseph Amba, “for his professionalism”.
Chukwueke argued that Geometric Power’s leading role in the resolution of the crisis is an example of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), explaining that CSR is far more than philanthropy, or giving back to society. “Most Nigerians, including university professors, often don’t seem to understand that CSR is about an organisation”, he explained, adding that “performing its functions as a valuable and positive member of society.
“Hence, Prof. Bart Nnaji, the Geometric Power chairman, who is also a former Minister of Power and a globally recognised authority in the field of engineering, has from the very beginning been insistent on the company caring profoundly about such issues as the host community, ethical integrity, commitment to environmental protection, employee satisfaction and inclusion of women in sensitive and top positions.
“Silent Spring Estate is located, as the Americans would say, in our neck of the woods; they are here with us in Osisioma. We can’t be indifferent to the feud among their residents, all the more so since the fight is over electricity. We are proud that Geometric Power initiated the process that will see the residents enter a new phase in history that will usher in peace, trust, harmony and solidarity which will give rise to prosperity”.
