Dr. Deji Adeleke, a prominent businessman and Pro-chancellor of Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, announced on Sunday that his 1250-megawatt power plant in Ajebamidele, Ondo State, is now complete.
However, the plant is not yet operational as it awaits connection to the gas grid.
Once operational, the project is expected to create over 2,000 jobs for engineers and other professionals.
Adeleke announced this during Adeleke University’s 11th undergraduate and 7th postgraduate convocation ceremonies in Ede, Osun State.
His younger brother, Governor Ademola Adeleke, was awarded an honorary doctorate degree at the event.
In his address, Dr. Adeleke also voiced strong concerns about the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral processes.
He lamented the widespread issues of vote-buying and the use of thugs to manipulate elections, stating that the international community views Nigeria’s democracy as fraudulent.
He emphasized that this lack of credibility in the leadership selection process is a significant deterrent to foreign direct investment in the country.
“The powerplant is ready, I am only waiting to be connected to the gas grid to start generating power. That plant will employ over 2,000 engineers and other associated workers.
“Imagine if not because of my relationship, we are not able to get GE to supply the turbine to us, that means that the powerplant will not be built. That mean the jobs will not be there.
“Nobody wants to come to society where votes does not count, where the electorate do not have a say,” Adeleke said.
He said Nigerians cannot expect good governance after selling their votes to the highest buyer,
“But if we all insist on a free, fair and credible election other countries will respect us. Then we have environment that can attract direct foreign investment that will create the jobs that we do badly needs.
“Some of them who graduated four years ago, some of them are still on the street looking for jobs because nobody is investing. We do not understand that the way we conduct ourselves during our elections affect the ability of this country to attract foreign investors.
“Nigeria is a very good country with a lot of opportunities but we need to start from being able to fire our elected officials if they do not perform and where we start from is that we do not sell our vote, do the right thing,” Adeleke also said.
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