“Wanton riches are discovered in the electricity business that parents and guardians would even want their wards to work their way into the Parastatal Corporation in charge of electricity and power jobs and employment, as research findings have proved that power corporation is one of the most corrupt arms of the Nigerian civil service system!”
In Nigeria, the first spoken words coming from a toddler or infant while trying to mutter words and languages is “Up NEPA!” the phrase is more popular than and has outlived any Nigerian president living or dead!
It is so synonymous to our modern day lexicon and for over 54 years, the phrase has remained with us as a nation, despite the change of name, logo, seal from ECN to NEPA, and now PHCN and the legendary privatisation process and more names and reformed status are on the way, yet the script has refused to change or move the storyline to the genuine act. The role and the function of the electricity generating Parastatal corporation has been ridiculed, even by the unlettered locales that they warn their wards whenever there is relatively stable electricity, then, you don’t give credits to the power generating company or Parastatal corporation behind it as they see it as a taboo or bad omen, once they are appraised or celebrated, they instantly cut off the supply
Nigerian born photographer, Uche James Iroha is a 70s child. He belongs to the children given birth to after the civil war and experienced the Gowon’s regime development plan after the war. The oil boom era, massive salary structures in the civil service, financial profligacy that came with the oil boom, new development plans being executed, the new national anthem, Nigeria’s big brotherly role all over, Africa and even FESTAC ’77, but despite all these, the power problem still persisted and unfortunately, it is still with us till today.
It becomes a difficult venture for an artist to see and feel truth and
later explode it to the world. A very risky venture for artists and
artistes to plunge into. Uche damned the consequence and for complete
five years of his life, he refused to back down and took one of the
greatest risks of his life, even when some optimists assured him things
would have become better before he comes out to exhibit. Close to five
years things have gone for the worse. Uche didn’t stop and he decided to
showcase his findings through photography exhibition supported by
NIKON, a camera company.
His father was a renowned thespian who gave his country selfless service
through art. From broadcasting to theatre, the senior James Iroha,
popularly known as ‘Gringory’ gave a first class service life through
some iconic drama series such as “The Masquerade”Uche James Iroha studied sculpture at the University of Port-Harcourt
and took to photography in the mid nineties. A Prince Claus Fund
recipient due to his outstanding contribution in photography among his
generation, the Flesh, Fire and Blood exhibitor has grown his career
steadily and unprecedented manner into global reckoning. He runs
Photogarage, a photo clinic and a place to develop personal interest in
the art. The dreadlock photographer swept the world, the civil society,
collectors and enthusiasts off their feet in this latest offering at
Omenka Gallery recently. The exhibition was entitled “Power and Powers”
and the images were taken in black and white still using Nikon cameras.
The artist and the activism in him revealed the truth behind the darkness of one of the richest African countries and the people that are also in the dark perpetuating evil for 54 years now, leaving their supposedly precious citizens in the dark.
Often times, we get information and press releases about the grid and
the enormous money being pumped into everything for a stable power
supply, but behind us in the dark, the greed of some certain group
continues to put the country in the dark.
Allegations of corrupt practices have been exposed so many times in the
Parastatal corporation, but the people in the dark corner perpetuating
this darkening act have never being brought to book!
We would recall the 1987 power blackout throughout the federation and
the uproar that followed. People were arrested, saboteurs were caught,
people were sentenced, yet the darkness remained.
Haven’t we seen the staff at the Parastatal corporation warning
intruders and their fellow staff on disconnection patrol never to step
into their abode and tamper with their electricity, because there is
always a sign on the door close to their metre that reads “NEPA staff
lives here please don’t disconnect.” Any person that works with power
and electricity generating company is seen as a demi-god in any
neighborhood that person resides in Nigeria. He gets popularity vote
more than the CDA leader, because of the person’s access to the corridor
of power.
To give power to the people, the people have also being warned by the slogan “Never Expect
Power Always!”
Photographs/I amMarshall courtesy of Photogarage studios
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