The 2019 Electricity Crisis in Ijesaland and the Exemplary Intervention of Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi

Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi leading the AIG Adeleye Oyebade and his team to a meeting with the top management of IBEDC in Ibadan, Wednesday 20th March, 2019.

On Monday, 18th March 2019, Ijesaland was plunged into a crisis that threatened its very foundation for socio-economic development. A serious altercation, or imbroglio, occurred between some aggrieved youths in ljesaland and the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC). 

The conflict escalated into the destruction of critical electricity infrastructure, a situation that had grave consequences.

In immediate response to the incident, IBEDC disconnected the entire ljesa region from the National Electricity Grid, effectively cutting off power supply to households, businesses, public institutions, and essential services across all the six local governmnent areas of ljesaland.

The damage caused to the infrastructure was severe, and IBEDC initially insisted that power supply would not be restored unless the community paid for the cost of the destroyed facilities.

The estimated duration for disconnection, should payment not be made, was projected to last a minimum of five years. This was a situation that posed an existential threat to the economic and social well-being of over a million people in Ijesaland. 

The potential impact of such a prolonged blackout would have been catastrophic, crippling small and medium enterprises, disrupting healthcare services, halting educational activities, and setting the entire region back by decades in terms of development.

Amidst growing anxiety and disillusionment within the community, Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi, a distinguished leader and highly respected son of the soil, rose to the occasion. 

Recognizing the magnitude of the crisis and the devastating implications it could have on the future of Ijesaland, Asiwaju Fasuyi took it upon himself to spearhead a strategic and diplomatic intervention.

He immediately began to coordinate a series of high-level consultations and peace-building meetings, engaging all critical stakeholders, youth representatives, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community elders, business leaders, and officials of IBEDC. His approach was thoughtful, inclusive, and purpose-driven, with a singular objective: to resolve the conflict amicably without subjecting the Ijesa people to financial hardship or reputational damage.

In a show of dogged determination, negotiation skill, and patriotic fervor, Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi tirelessly navigated the complex dynamics of the situation. He calmed tensions, rebuilt trust between the community and the electricity provider, and positioned Ijesaland as a region committed to peaceful resolution and sustainable development. 

His advocacy was not only strategic but also persuasive, anchored in facts, goodwill, and a deep understanding of both the community's plight and IBEDC's operational framework.

In what many have described as a masterclass in leadership and community diplomacy, Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi's efforts culminated in the full restoration of electricity to ljesaland within just three months without the community paying a single kobo in penalty for the damaged infrastructure.

This outcome, which had initially seemed impossible, was achieved through sheer commitment, negotiation, and the high regard in which Asiwaju Fasuyi is held by both the Ijesa people and external stakeholders,

While Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi spearheaded the diplomatic mission, the resolution was the product of a united leadership effort.

Working alongside him were: Dr. Adigun Adewoye, whose technical insight, negotiation skills, and calm reasoning played a pivotal role in building mutual trust between the community and IBEDC.

His Royal Majesty, Oba (Engr.) Moses Olufemi Agunsoye, the Elegboro of Ijebu -Jesa, who brought the full moral authority of the traditional institution to the dialogue table, ensuring the process retained cultural legitimacy and communal unity.

Bobagunwa Remi Oyeyemi, whose influential voice, strategic counsel, and community mobilisation efforts helped rally the people of Ijesaland behind a united, non-confrontational front. Together, this coalition operated with a blend of firmness and diplomacy, ensuring that tensions were defused, misunderstandings clarified, and a credible path to reconciliation established.

Through this selfless intervention, Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi saved ljesaland from the monumental embarrassment and socio-economic paralysis of living in darkness for half a decade. 

His resolve during the crisis underscored his deep love for his people and his unwavering dedication to community advancement. He demonstrated that leadership is not about titles or positions, but about rising when it matters most when the community is at a crossroads, and the stakes are high.

Today, the Ijesa people continue to enjoy stable electricity, a direct consequence of Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi's uncommon courage and intervention in 2019. This legacy remains etched in the collective memory of the people, as a beacon of hope, unity, and responsible leadership in the face of crisis.