Could this be the so-called medicine after death? This has become a major question on the lips of many as the management of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria in Akure, Ondo State has apologised to the family of 17-year-old Tayelolu Adesua, who was electrocuted due to the alleged illegal disconnection exercise of the officials of the company. The father of the deceased, Michael Adesua, is insisting on justice.
The death, which caused uproar and led to a protest by students and residents of Akure, the Ondo State capital, last week, has left the father of the deceased embittered and short of words as tears flow freely from his eyes when he said: “I want those that killed my son to be punished because this child is a part of me.” The father of the deceased, amid tears, was just lying on the couch as he described his first son and first child of the family as a major factor in his life.
Michael tearfully pleaded that he wants the perpetrators to be brought to book as they had allegedly caused the death of his dear son, Taye.
The electrocution of an 17-year-old Taye Adesua of CAC United Grammar school has left a bitter pill in the mouth of his family, peers and residents of Asuwamo Family Residential Estate, off Aule Estate in Akure. Taye, who until his death was a Senior Secondary School student preparing for his WAEC, was a special child to the family of Adesuwa, the owners of the community they reside.
Born on January 18, 1997 as premature twin, it took God’s intervention before the family of the late Taye could bring him home alive without his Kehinde after taking them to two different hospitals before his life was preserved at the Ondo State Specialist Hospital, Akure.
The unfortunate incident, which eventually claimed the life of Taye after 17 years that his family had found solace in the fact they have him after losing his twin, occurred on November 26 when the officials of Power Holding Company of Nigeria undertaking a disconnection of lines in the area.
Narrating the ordeal that made the father of the son incommunicado and the mother devastated when the press got to the house of the deceased, the Head of the family and the leader of the community where the family resides, Chief Adewale Adesuwa, cried for justice on the matter. Chief Adewale Adesuwa, who is an uncle to Tayelolu, retired from the National Electric Power Authority. He lamented that the disconnection was wrongly carried out.
Chief Adesuwa, who is also a retired police officer turned politician, attributed the cause to the negligence of the PHCN officials. He said before the incidence, there had been total blackout in the area. He said: “When the PHCN officials, led by a lady, came to the house, we were not at home but we learnt that they have been coming to the neighbourhood to extort people of N2,000 and disconnecting the lines of those who cannot pay. When Taye and his sibling returned from school that evening, they were playing, not knowing that the wire that was cut was not properly done and the live wire was dropped in the house pantry where some used iron rods left over from the house building and Taye’s father’s car silencer were kept. The pantry was also used in keeping other kitchen utensils and equipment.
“When their mother returned home she called the deceased and his siblings together to join her to prepare dinner for the family. Meanwhile, the power had been fluctuating that evening so Taye’s mother told him to go and fetch water, an order he complied with.
“What we heard was a loud scream from the pantry. We all rushed there to inquire what happened but we only met Taye electrocuted, glued to a spot. Taye had gone into the pantry unknown to him because they had all been entering and the place that day but had not touched the metals there and there was no power then. But as soon as he stretched his hand to carry the bucket, the power was suddenly restored and his arm touched the car silencer, which the live wire dropped on.
“It was raining that night. We could not move the car. We got help from commercial motorcycle riders (popularly called okada riders. About eight of them came to assist the family and took us to a private hospital because he was still gasping for breath but we were told that the doctor was not around. We had to move him to another private hospital, Adetade Hospital, where we were told he had given up the ghost.
“We went to report the incident at Okuta Elerinla Divisional Police Station, where the police began investigation on the case. We went to State Hospital mortuary to deposit the corpse before we went to the PHCN office to identify and arrest the officials involved in the illegal disconnection of lines.”
It was gathered that residents were pained so much one of the youth began to announce with the use of megaphone that all the youth should converge to stage a protest at the PHCN office along Oyemekun-Ilesa Road, Akure. They alleged that the PHCN officials were planning not to give them power because their officials had been arrested. Chief Adesuwa said it took his intervention to calm the frayed nerves of the youth and also went to the PHCN office to ensure power was restored.
He explained that it was on November 29 when the deceased’s school mates came to the house to sympathise with the family that on their way back they saw PHCN officials again at the transformer. This was said to have angered them and they began to march to the PHCN office at Lafe in protest, chanting a dirge: “Oro nla le da, araye o oro nla le da, eyin te pa Tayelolu te je o dagba Oro nla le da (You have caused us so much agony, those of you who killed Taye in his prime).
The PHCN manager contacted the deceased’s uncle who in turn called the police. The policemen came to the PHCN office alongside the school principal, who came panicking.
Taye’s uncle said: “I had to tell him to just let us speak to the children and we did and they went back. We have buried Taye. All I want is justice and if nothing is done I will go violent. He has been a special child to the family but now he’s gone. We have buried him because we can’t keep him.”
Taye’s father, who is in his early 50s, is still in shock. He betrays emotions whenever he is urged to speak about his son. His wife, Titilayo, has still not come to terms with the incident. She said she will agree with whatever the family decision is on the issue.
However, the management of PHCN has written an apology letter to the family of the deceased for the misdemeanour of their men, which caused the death of Taye. In the letter signed by Engineer Y.M Auta, the PHCN Business Manager, Igbara-Oke/Oyemekun, the company said: “The management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company of Igbara-oke Oyemekun Business District Ilesa road, Akure hereby apologises for the death of your son, Late Taye Adesua.
“Who died as a result of electrical accident caused when your building was disconnected by our men.
“We hereby apologise for this misdemeanour caused by our men and pray that God will give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
“We hereby appeal for the withdrawal of the case from the police. Please accept our sincere condolence.”
Chief Adesua said: “We are still trying to persuade Michael to let go. Though it’s painful but what can we do? It is a big blow and shock to the whole family.”
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