By Enitan Abdultawab

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has linked the lack of electricity in rural communities to early bedtime and what he described as increased population growth.

The former governor, after being inaugurated as Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency governing board, and speaking in a video shared by ARISE News on Saturday, said the absence of electricity had deprived people in rural areas of alternative forms of recreation at night.

He said, “Why don’t you address this issue of electricity? The people at that level have no alternative attraction. Nothing else matters to them. After 7 o’clock, it gets dark there.

“Everybody is engaging their wives. And the population simply becomes double. The simple problem is because there is lack of electricity.”

Fayose argued that improved electricity supply would keep rural residents outdoors for longer hours and create opportunities for recreation beyond staying at home.

He said, “People go to bed early. Their mind is simply prepared that, well, if this is the only available recreation, let me remain here.

“But when we address this electricity, there will be nightlife. There will be recreation outside your wife.”

The former governor made the comments as he assumed leadership of the REA board, which is responsible for expanding electricity access to underserved and unserved communities across the country.

Fayose was inaugurated alongside other members of the governing board by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe.

Ahmadu Abubakar and Ilyasu Makinta were also inaugurated as board members, alongside three other non-executive directors, while Abba Aliyu was formally installed as the agency’s Managing Director.