Prof. Barth Nnaji’s resignation yesterday as Minister of Power was an act of God, workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) have said.

Nnaji, who had running battles with the National Union ofElectricity Employees (NUEE) over his determination to privatise the powers sector, suddenly quit yesterday afternoon after being accused of abuse of office when it became known that two firms linked to him had submitted bids for two of the power stations billed for privatisation.

Nnaji’s fall from grace came hours after PHCN workers held a marathon prayer session seeking God’s intervention for the downfall of their enemies.

“There was no work at our office from 8am to1pm yesterday as the workers prayed for God to deal with their enemies. They, therefore, see Nnaji’s downfall as a direct answer to their prayer by God,” one of the workers at Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company in Lagos told News Express.

The atmosphere at the company, previously the Ikeja Lagos PHCN headquarters, was electrifying as the workers organised an emergency thanks-giving service to God for answering their prayer. The 30-minute thanks-giving held before the commencement of work was graced by Comrade Mbang Ntukubes, Vice President, NUEE, Lagos and Ogun Zone, Comrade Chris Onomeh, National Auditor NUEE and Comrade Christopher Oluwaranti Abodunde, State Financial Secretary, Lagos State NUEE.

Apart from prayers, PHCN workers also carried a mock coffin and photograph of Prof. Nnaji with inscriptions such as “Rest in pieces, Bad Energy.” “Bad Energy” was the nickname which PHCN workers gave Nnaji at the height of their war against him. The photo and mock coffin were destroyed after the prayer session.

*Photo: Prof. Nnaji