The Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Kaduna State Council, Reverend John Joseph Hayab has called on religious, political, and community leaders to stop spreading unfounded stories capable of over-heating the polity or instigating violent uprising and destruction of public assets.
He made the appeal today in Kaduna when he received officials of Kaduna Electric who paid him a visit at the CAN Secretariat to brief him on the power supply situation in the Country and especially in Kaduna and environs.
Reverend Hayab said all community leaders and other leaders of thought alike should always endeavour to verify the authenticity of stories and information that come to their attention before making pronouncement on them to avoid misleading or misinforming their subjects.
The leader of the Christian body appreciated the visit by Kaduna Electric, saying that the Council is better informed on the current power supply challenges in the State.
He assured the Kaduna Electric team that they will use all platforms at the disposal of the Christian body to enlighten and educate their congregation on the power supply challenges in the Country, asserting that “Nigerians should avoid anything that will set our Country on the path of self-destruction”.
Earlier, the Chief Operating Officer of Kaduna Electric, Mr. Ocholi Ausa, who led the team, explained that the power rationing (load shedding) being experienced in parts of Kaduna metropolis is as a result of the sharp drop in power generation nation wide.
“Contrary to the erroneous information and misleading speculations ascribing the situation to political or any subterranean undertones, the current intermittent service interruptions being experienced in Areas such as Rigasa, Mando, Tudun Wada, Unguwan Mu’azu, Nariya, and a cross section of the southern parts of the metropolis is purely due to generation shortfall”, he said.
According to him, “the power allocation to our Company is now reduced by almost 50%; the situation became more difficult to manage since the beginning of this month because of the under frequency relays installed by Transmission Company of Nigeria in some selected heavy load circuits to avert collapse of the National grid”.
Mr Ocholi assured the CAN Chairman that the Management of Kaduna Electric is engaging all relevant stakeholders with the view to bringing improvement to the situation.
He therefore appealed for more understanding of the general public and warned against attacking personnel or installations of the Company, a development, he said, will only make the situation worse.
In their separate contributions, Arch Bishop Joe Yari and Reverend Ma’aji Caleb advised the electricity Company to engage community and youth leaders the more to further create better understanding and awareness among the populace.