I do know for sure that the caption “Computerized Robbery” will certainly evoke some interests from the reading public. To some, it might not cause any stir at all as what would readily come to mind would likely be cases of dupe by fraudsters (419) via the internet.
However, what this piece is all about has nothing to do with those advanced “419” operators, but their very close relative, the POWER “HOLDERS”, sorry, POWER HOLDING COMPANY OF NIGERIA (PHCN) PLC.
This set of robbers, like their night counterparts, also carry weapons though not as dangerous as guns, machetes, axes, etc, and they do their own business in the broad day light, moving from one house to another in every street of all the states of the federation to ensure that the house-to-house operation is thorough and exhaustive. With shameless boldness, they carry pliers, ladders and very thick belts to ensure their safety when they climb the poles to disconnect you from the powerless power source they operate. They cut your wires and make away with them as though they provided them for you; and I keep wondering what should give these people the impetus to go about displaying this act of irrationality and imbecility, but I cannot find one genuine reason for it. The most stupid and annoying part of it all is that, you go to their offices and all you hear is the people bragging, “Whether there is light or not, you must pay; otherwise, how would we survive?” And they say this with so much emphasis on the “MUST”. Isn't this funny? So, if you have to pay by force, the big question now is “WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM (THE POWER HOLDERS) AND THE ROBBERS THAT OPERATE AT NIGHT? Even the robbers that operate at night some times meet some very stiff resistance from the security operatives in the course of carrying out their operation. But unfortunately, the same security outfits that oppose the night robbers are the very ones providing security for these computerized robbers in the day.
If every other organization should be sitting down providing not the services required of them and at the end of the day, they go about collecting people's money how would our society be like?
The Bible says, what you would not like done to you, then do it not to others. Our brothers, sisters, friends and parents in PHCN should realize this fact and sit up to their responsibilities. They should not only be occupied with how to manipulate fictitious figures on computers and then distribute same to the hapless public. They should not be lazy in their statutory duty of providing electricity and only be snappy in collecting money they don't deserve, yes, exploiting people with impunity. They should realize that, there is always a limit to everything, especially criminal activities such as taking money from people for services not rendered. I strongly believe they are some of the people who point accusing fingers at the police for money extortion on the road, whereas theirs is even worse, a case of robbery.
Methinks, it is high time the public rose in protest to this injustice by the Power Holders, else the people will ignorantly think they are doing very well, especially when people rush to pay even on weekends and public holidays just to ensure the safety of the wires they bought with their hard earned money, but definitely not for a good service.
A priest of the Catholic Church once told a story of his interaction with a group of politicians. He told them, if he were working in the power sector, he would resign his appointment for the embarrassing situation the sector has caused the nation. Can you imagine the reaction of the politicians? “Yes, he can afford to resign because he has no wife and children in the house to cater for.” What a funny reason for being in the public service?
So, because you have wives and children at home to cater for, then you must take people's money, no matter how. The great lesson from these politicians therefore is that every other person should as a matter of survival take money from another, no matter how. If that is the case, then it is not fair. It is not Ok. The power sector idoho Ok.

… THE “AFE MBONO” CONNECTION
It is something baffling and in fact, disgusting for “Afe Mbono” of all organizations to be the only one praising and hailing the Power Holders for stupidly, uselessly, carelessly and in fact, criminally holding on the power, thereby causing unnecessary hardship to the people.
For something to be adjudged good, such a thing MUST attain at least a fifty percent mark over all. It is no hidden fact that the POWER HOLDERS OF NIGERIA remains the most disappointing and embarrassing organization in Nigeria now, and yet, this is the organization that “Afe Mbono” I so much cherish on radio and would abandoned most other things to listen to, has the cat eyes to see as being a wonderful performer all of a sudden, when in over 90% of the places people are languishing in total darkness for weeks, some running into months.
Should I be tempted to believe that “Afe Mbono” was hailing Power Holders ironically? But, I do not know the “Mbono” to be ironical in all its programmes I have ever listened to. All I know of the “Mbono” is that, its yes is yes and its no is no, but if “Afe Mbono” has now turned to see yes as no and no as yes, in other words, white being described as black and vice versa in the broad day light, then it is sad as sad could be. It definitely calls for a question mark if there was exchange of hands for that programme to have been in the air.