OBJ Called Me At 2:00 a.m.& Asked,‘Are You Sleeping?’I Replied,‘What Am I Supposed To Be Doing-Imoke

In a recent interview on Symfoni TV on Monday, October 5, 2026, Liyel Imoke, former governor of Cross River State and former Minister of Power, recalled his experience working with former President Olusegun Obasanjo during the early stages of efforts to address Nigeria’s electricity challenges.

Imoke explained that his involvement in the power sector began after Obasanjo assigned him responsibilities at the then National Electric Power Authority, despite his professional background as a lawyer.

According to Imoke, “OBJ called me at 2:00 a.m. and asked, ‘Are you sleeping?’ I replied, ‘What am I supposed to be doing?’” He recalled the unusual nature of the assignment and the demands that came with working to improve electricity generation.

The former governor said the country was facing serious electricity challenges at the time, with generation having fallen to a very low level. He explained that Obasanjo expected him to help restore generation by focusing on the rehabilitation of existing generating machines.

Imoke noted that the administration set an ambitious target for electricity generation and that efforts were subsequently made to increase output substantially within a relatively short period.

He also explained that his experience at NEPA later contributed to his understanding of the broader challenges within the power sector, including generation, transmission and distribution.

According to him, the experience eventually informed some of the reforms undertaken during the period, including the restructuring of the electricity sector and the creation of institutions intended to improve regulation and market operations.

Click on the link to watch the video from 30:30 – 30:39

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