UCH Power Outage: APGA Warns Governor Makinde Against Neglecting Citizens’ Welfare
The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has strongly urged the Oyo State Government to take immediate action to resolve the ongoing power outage crisis at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
APGA condemned the government’s apparent reluctance to intervene, warning that playing politics with people’s lives and health is both irresponsible and unacceptable. The party insisted that the state government must rise to the occasion and provide the necessary support to UCH, which has been in darkness since October 2024 due to an unpaid N283 million debt to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
State Chairman, Adeniyi Oluwagbemiga, and State Secretary, Hon. Salami Gbolagbade, made this call during a courtesy visit to Deacon Samson Olalere, a former Southwest Chairman and a member of the Party’s Board of Trustees, in Ibadan.
APGA leaders expressed deep concerns over the state government’s failure to assist UCH, questioning its commitment to the welfare of Oyo State citizens. They called on Governor Seyi Makinde to provide temporary financial assistance to the hospital and collaborate with the Federal Government for a lasting solution to its power crisis.
“What is the true value of governance if not to protect and serve the people?” the leaders asked.
They criticized the state government’s stance that UCH is a federal institution and, therefore, not its responsibility. APGA pointed out that the Oyo State Government has a precedent of supporting federal agencies like the Nigerian Police Force and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) with logistics and welfare. Additionally, the state has constructed and rehabilitated federal roads while expecting reimbursements.
“If the state can fund federal road projects, why can’t it provide temporary relief to UCH in this emergency?” the leaders challenged.
APGA stressed that the majority of UCH patients are Oyo State residents and that their health must be prioritized over politics. They called for urgent intervention to restore electricity to the hospital, ensuring that essential healthcare services are not disrupted.
“The state government must demonstrate leadership, put politics aside, and act swiftly to protect the lives and well-being of Oyo citizens,” the statement concluded.
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