Ibadan Explosion: Oyo Monarchs Back Makinde over Fight Against Illegal Mining

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

Traditional rulers from across the five geopolitical zones of Oyo State, yesterday, declared their support for the state government in its fight against illegal mining in different parts of the state.

The monarchs spoke while addressing journalists at the press conference room of the governor’s office shortly after a closed door meeting with the governor.

The Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, while speaking on behalf of the monarchs, lauded Governor Seyi Makinde for what he described as his “swift response” to the explosion that rocked Ibadan last week while also commiserating with the victims.

Other traditional rulers in attendance include the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye, Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun who was represented by Oba Tajudeen Ajibola and Oba Hamidu Ajibade; the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Sefiu Oyebola and the Okere of Saki, Oba Khalid Oyeniyi Olabisi.

Others are the Onpetu of Ijeruland, Oba Sunday Oyediran; Olu of Igboora, Oba Jimoh Olajide Titiloye and Akibio of Ilora, Oba Steven Oyeniyi; Iba of Kisi, Oba Moshod Lawal; Bashorun of Oyo, High Chief Akinade Ayoola and Onilala of Lanlate, Oba Sunday Oladejo.

It would be recalled that the Tuesday explosion which rocked Dejo Oyelese Street, Adeyi Area, Old Bodija, Ibadan left in its trail, five fatalities, and property worth hundreds of millions destroyed, among others.

Preliminary investigations fingered dynamite stored up by illegal miners as the immediate cause of the explosion.

While commiserating with the governor and the people of the state, the monarchs said they have resolved to deepen their support for the state government in terms of communication and sharing of intelligence in order to curb the menace of illegal mining in the state.

Oba Alao lauded the governor for being proactive in his approach to disaster management most especially in the recent explosion that has left some dead and many injured, adding that the traditional rulers swung into action after the incident of the Ibadan explosion and have identified critical areas that require urgent supportive attention.

He listed the identified areas to include security lapses, medical and humanitarian challenges, noting however, that Governor Makinde has already put measures in place to address them adequately and that the monarchs were proud of the governor.

He said, “We’ve been able to identify three tracks. First is the issue of some security lapses, medical and humanitarian challenges. All these three tracks, the governor has put adequate measures in place to address them.

“Also, he has briefed us on how he has been working in collaboration with the federal government, to be precise, the president of Nigeria. The federal government has sent relevant agencies to liaise with the state government in order to mitigate the damage and try as much as possible to do their best to cushion the effects of the explosion.

“On our part, we’ve been able to come up with views with the state government, all of us as traditional rulers across the five geopolitical zones of Oyo State, whereby, we’ve resolved to provide more support for government in terms of communication and sharing of intelligence to curb the issue of illegal mining.”