The residents of Talase and its surrounding communities in the Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State have described the rural electrification project initiated by Hon. Ali Isa, member representing Billiri/Balanga Federal Constituency as a “hoax.”
The residents said they came to this conclusion following the sudden withdrawal of the contractors from the site and weeks of silence from the lawmaker.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that the project, which was launched with fanfare and high expectations earlier in the year, has now stalled for over two months without any official explanation from Hon. Ali Isa’s office or representatives.
This development has made some of the frustrated residents and stakeholders conclude that the situation has not only dashed their hopes of rural electricity supply but also cast doubts on the sincerity of the lawmaker’s project promises.
While speaking with our correspondent over the issue, Yakubu Ayuba, who is a farmer voiced his concern over the situation, saying, “This was nothing more than political deception. They brought equipment, flagged off the project, and left – just like that.
“For 19 years, we’ve lived in darkness. When we saw the project commence, it felt like a miracle. Now, it feels like a hoax.”
When Arewa PUNCH undertook a visit to the project site, it was discovered that the now abandoned project site is already heavily overgrown with wild weeds and totally deserted, with residents pointing to the absence of a constituency office or any form of communication from the Green Chamber lawmaker, Isa, who doubles as the Minority Whip as a further proof of neglect.
“There’s no functioning office here to engage in any form of communication with the lawmaker or any of his representatives. Worse still, the honourable hasn’t visited since the flag-off. We’ve called, texted, and even gone through aides but with no response.
“This is not fair. It is not how you treat your constituents,” Ayuba lamented.
Business owners within the area say they are also feeling the impact of the last-minute ditch that Hon. Ali Isa has subjected their hopes to.
Musa Adamu, who runs a tailoring shop, said he’s had to lay off apprentices due to the unstable power supply.
“During the festive periods, I rely on a generator which I fuel up in order to meet up with the demands of my customers, but this is expensive.
“Naturally, i add the cost on my customers’ bill, but they complain about the high prices of the payments for sewing clothes in the face of the prevailing economic hardship that is real.
“When this project came, it excited us and gave us a lot of hope. It was supposed to change everything. Now it feels like we were used by the politician and dumped to our ugly fate,” Adamu bemoaned.
Bearing a similar frustration was Sulaiman Idris, who operates a cold drinks store. He said that he now spends between N10,000 and N20,000 daily to buy ice blocks to keep his business afloat.
“The cost is unbearable. We were excited when we saw the trucks and the contractors, thinking our suffering was about to end. Now, we feel that we have been deceived,” he declared.
Arewa PUNCH reports further that the situation is raising the bile of anger among the several youth groups and civic advocates, some of whom are already mobilising to hold the lawmaker accountable ahead of the 2027 elections.
Not a few of them say the situation could define the political fortunes of not just Ali, but any candidate backed by his party, the Peoples Democratic Party.
“This community will not forget in a hurry this scam. If we don’t see results, there will be political consequences,” Ayuba warned.
Reacting, Hon. Ali Isa confirmed the suspension of the project, blaming it on delays from the federal disbursements that are affecting contractors nationwide.
“I have personally engaged the contractor in the last few days. We understand the financial challenges being faced, but at the National Assembly, we are intervening through our various committees to ensure contractors return to the site.”
However, in spite of these explanations, many residents say they remain unconvinced, insisting that the lawmaker owes them more than mere excuses.
“He owes us results, not rhetoric. We need action, not the blame games,” Adamu, for instance, maintained.
