Makinde’s big, bold and brave leadership has helped Oyo greatly —Oni, DG OYSMDA

Director-General of the Oyo State Solid Mineral Development Agency, Mr Abiodun Oni, speaks on the six years administration of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde and how it has impacted on the economy of the state, among other key sectors. Excerpts:

THE administration of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde celebrated its sixth year in office. As someone who has served this government in different capacities, what is your assessment of the last six years?

Ordinarily, it would have been better if I am not put in a position to give an assessment of the government of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde, because I am also a participant in it. For the sake of feedback and feeling the pulse of the people, I would have preferred to listen to others’ assessment but since you asked the question, let me say that the administration of Governor Makinde has delivered on its promises to the people. The governor campaigned round the state in 2019; he told them his plans for the state as contained in the Oyo State Roadmap for Accelerated Development, 2019-2023 and the people voted for him.

His re-election in 2023 indicated that the people were satisfied with the performance of the governor. Of course, there was no doubt that the governor’s achievements in reducing infrastructure deficit, uplifting the education and health sectors and expanding the economy through infrastructure, agribusiness and adequate security would earn him a re-election. Most of us were convinced that he would also shatter the glass ceiling that Oyo State residents don’t re-elect a governor.

Are you saying that there were no fears in government circles that Governor Makinde would not be re-elected?

What would be the basis for such fears? We are talking about a governor, who spent four years in office and delivered infrastructure development that surpassed those who had completed their two terms. Did you know that in just four years, the achievements recorded by the Governor Makinde administration, especially in the area of infrastructure development could not be rivaled? I can tell you that by the time he finishes his second term of office, the achievements his administration would have recorded cannot be surpassed easily by any government in the coming years. As His Excellency always says, the reward for hard work is more work; so there was no doubt at all that the good people of Oyo State would return their amiable governor.

Also, despite the fact that he was governor, no governorship candidate campaigned as much as he did. No party in the last governorship election in Oyo State campaigned as much as the PDP. I mean, we were everywhere. Unlike the usual norm that governors would rely on incumbency factor, Governor Makinde put out the best manifesto for his second term of office, which he called the Oyo State Roadmap for Sustainable Development, 2023-2025. It was in this second roadmap that the governor added solid minerals and tourism as part of the legs on which the economic expansion agenda of the state would stand.

So far, so good, Oyo State has experienced a massive transformation; the economy has opened up widely and the effects are visible in the huge increase in IGR and other key indices of development. You can also see positive results of Governor Makinde’s visionary policies in the security, health and education sectors, among others.

You’ve made it look like it was all a jolly ride, were there no challenges in these past six years?

Of course, it couldn’t have been a jolly ride. No one coming into government would expect that things would be an easy sail all through. And, if you know Governor Makinde quite well, you would know that he is an intellectual and a visionary. He was able to succeed in business at a young age because he was daring and he never shied away from challenges. He is a strategic planner, who envisages difficulties and plots a way out even before embarking on a task, so it has not been difficult for him to handle challenges and make a success out of governance in the state. Don’t forget that he is an engineer and his government has been driven by data, logic and science.

Let me also add this, the governor is a bold and resolute person; once he sees a chance of success in a venture, he would commit everything towards it. This resoluteness and courageous leadership have helped us greatly in Oyo State. I can tell you that this bold leadership has also been helping Oyo State to chart a better course in the solid mineral sector.

Since you have talked about solid mineral development, how has that sector fared on your watch? Are there success stories from the sector?

Yes. As I said earlier, Governor Makinde’s courage as a leader has helped to change the narrative in the solid mineral sector in the state. You would recall that in October 2023, the governor signed an executive order that sought to protect mining communities against insecurity and exploitation. Through that singular act, the Oyo State Solid Mineral Development Agency was the much-desired backing to beat back exploiters and criminal elements threatening the peace and well-being of our people. Today, mining communities are more in charge of their lives and we have continued to tell our traditional rulers and community leaders not to sign off on mineral resources indiscriminately. Today, no consent letter is signed or should be signed until a Community Development Agreement is signed. Some of the traditional rulers are confirming and some are not, we are currently compiling the names of defaulters. It’s work in progress.

Our agency has also been able to collaborate more with security agencies to secure our people, because, you see, insecurity is like a chain. The individuals you see as thieves and armed robbers could begin with illegal mining and once they are not able to make ends meet in that area, they move into other crimes like kidnapping, robbery and all that. So, through the enablement of the governor, we have been able to address insecurity around mining communities and you can see that there is more peace and order across the state.

Currently, we have two control posts manned by a joint task force in Irepo and Olorunsogo Local Government. This has stifled the nefarious activities of illegal mining traders. Additionally, we are creating a mineral buying centre in the area that will be controlled by the government.

I would like to say without fear or favour that no sub-national government has invested as much as our governor in the mineral resources sector. For example, the state SPV mining company, PMDC has over 20 staff technical and non-technical, 25 exploration and mining licences, a corporate headquarters in Ibadan and operational base in Ipapo. We are also creating three buying centres in Otu, Kishi and Igbeti before the end of this quarter.

You also served as a Commissioner for Environment; don’t you see that area as still posing a challenge?

Like a popular artist once sang, problem e no dey finish. Honesty, the government has been doing a fantastic job. But you see, the environment has to do with the people and anything that has to do with the people, with behavioural patterns and need for attitudinal change, there are a lot of dynamics that will come into play. You see, the environment is not like building roads or building schools in which case you just map out an area and begin construction. When it comes to changing people’s attitude about disposing waste, it is a continuous thing and this administration has continued to do well in enlightening the people and in implementing punitive efforts, where necessary.

You can see that our environment is now cleaner, but as I said, since it has to do with human beings, it will continue to be a work in progress.

So, what should residents of Oyo State look forward to in the next two years?

Let me say like Americans would say, they ain’t seen nothing yet. Governor Makinde has proven that he is not like every other political office holder, who relents after securing a second term of office. He kept saying during the re-election campaign that he would not relent in delivering the goods to the Oyo State people once he was re-elected. And, in the last two years, I can say that the governor has delivered more across all sectors even more than the first four years.

From the records available to me, this administration has built more kilometres of roads in the last two years than it did in the first four years. More school buildings have been built. And, if you look at the area of employment creation, the Oyo State Government has recruited close to 20,000 teaching and non-teaching staff into the primary and secondary schools, 35 Geologists were hired into OYSMIDA as well as another close to 4,000 professionals into the health sector.

So, if you ask me what the people should expect going forward, I can tell you that it can only get better and better.

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