…reiterates commitment for construction of Airstrips in Igbeti for security surveillance
Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has warned traditional rulers in the Oke-Ogun area against indiscriminate signing of licenses for miners.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to constructing an airstrip in Igbeti for the security surveillance of the zone.
Makinde said his advice to the leaders and residents of Oke-Ogun on illegal mining activities became imperative because of the environmental impacts.
Speaking at the funeral ceremony of Madam Victoria Omolayo Oni, his Special Adviser on Solid Minerals Development and Chairman of the Oyo State Solid Minerals Development Agency, at the End-time Cry Bible Church, Igbeti, Oyo State, Makinde noted that illegal mining activities pose threats to the environment.
He warned that the area might have to grapple with the negative environmental impacts of illegal mining in the not-too-distant future.
On infrastructure, the governor disclosed that his administration’s commitment to building infrastructure for economic expansion has seen it embark on a massive drive to connect local government areas in Oke-Ogun Zone II to Saki’s economy.
Makinde added that the Saki-Ogboro-Igboho Road, which seeks to connect Saki West, Saki East, and Oorelope LGs, has reached an advanced stage. He noted that the project would also be extended to connect Agbonle in Saki East, Igbeti in Olorunsogo LG, and Kisi in Irepo LG.
He explained that connecting the local government areas would result in the desired economic uplift of the zone, revealing that he had nursed the idea as far back as 1984, when he visited Igbeti as a young boy and noticed people had difficulties moving across the area due to lack of roads.
Makinde also said his administration would fulfill its promise to build an airstrip for security surveillance and rehabilitate and equip the Igbeti General Hospital, in line with his electioneering promises.
Governor Makinde, who lauded Madam Oni for living a good life and impacting society as well as himself, donated N25 million to the End-time Cry Bible Church, Igbeti, to immortalize her.
He said:
“All the things the Reverend said were the promises we made. We have gone through one or two of them and before the completion of my tenure, they will happen.
“One of the promises is the construction of an airstrip in Igbeti for security surveillance. I will fly into Igbeti before the end of my tenure. I have not forgotten at all, because it is already a work in progress.
“Also, the Igbeti General Hospital is part of those captured in the French programme. We have done the survey; the project should kick off very soon.
“You also talked about a road connecting Ogbomoso-Oyo axis. They have traced the road from Igbeti that links Igbeti to Ogbomoso through the Iseyin-Fapote-Ogbomoso Road. It is 102 kilometres. The survey has been done and, hopefully, we will start it. But by 2027, if you vote for whoever we advise you to vote for, they will complete the road project.
“I know the road is important. But there is one before it that is more important; the Saki-Ogboro-Igboho Road. We have already done the road up to somewhere after Ogbooro. When it reaches Igboho, it will take a spur to Kisi and also another spur to Igbeti as well.
“There will also be a spur to Agbonle. These roads will give the connectivity we need, which will boost the economy of this zone.
“We are already fixing the road connecting Iseyin to Saki, though it is a federal road. Once we connect Iseyin to Saki for now and Saki to Ogboro to Igboho to Igbeti, I believe we would have achieved 80 per cent of the desired connectivity to lift the economy of this place, because Saki is the most solid economy around this axis and once the other local governments are connected to it, it will bring about the desired economic uplift for this area.
“I tell people that I didn’t just make the decision to fix these roads. It was an idea that I have nursed since 1984 as a young boy and I am happy that I can bring the idea to reality.”
Earlier, Hon. Oni, who read the biography of the deceased, eulogized her as a woman of virtue, who loved family and served God.
In his sermon titled “Are you on the right path?”, Revd W.A. Oderinde noted that Jesus Christ remains the way, the truth, and the life and that He is the right path every man must take to reach heaven.
He added that human beings have just a few years to spend on earth, no matter how long, so they must live each day as if the end will come today.
According to the cleric, Mama Oni realized that life was transient, and she lived well and made an impact on humanity, calling on others to also prepare for eternity.
The event was attended by the Wife of Oyo State Governor, Her Excellency Engr. (Mrs.) Tamunominini Makinde; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; Senior Executive Assistant to the Governor on General Duties, Chief Bayo Lawal; member of the Oyo State Elders’ Council, Chief Jacob Adetoro; Special Adviser on Training and Establishment, Alhaji Siju Lawal; and Special Adviser on Budget, Hon. Simeon Oyeleke.
Others in attendance were Chief Tunde Tijani; former Member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Olayemi Busari; Chairman, Water Corporation of Oyo State, Hon. Elias Adeojo; Special Assistant to the Governor on Irepo/Olorunsogo/Oorelope Federal Constituency, Alhaji Yusuff Sarafadeen Alani (Alwajud); and Special Assistant to the Governor on Print Media, Moses Alao.
Also present were Irepo Local Government Chairman, Alhaji Tunde Olayiwola; Oorelope Local Government Chairman, Hon. Jacob Ogundiran; Olorunsogo Local Government Chairman, Hon. Kazeem Oorelope; the Onigbeti of Igbeti, Oba (Engr.) Bashir Olalekan Abioye and some of his chiefs; the Alepata of Igboholand, Oba (Dr.) Joel Olawuwo; the representative of the Iba of Kisi, Oba Mashood Aweda; as well as political leaders from the 10 local government areas of Oke-Ogun and across Oyo State.
and then