The Oyo State Government has said it remains committed to making Igbeti in Olorunsogo Local Government the hub of mining site in Oyo State.
This was disclosed by the Executive Chairman, Oyo State Mineral Development Agency, Hon Abiodun Oni on Monday while celebrating the Easter with Christians at Oke Okin Mountain in Igbeti, Olorunsogo Local Government of Oyo State.
Oni, while addressing journalists after the event, noted that Governor Seyi Makinde is always in support of what the Solid Mineral Development Agency does by approving the data mining and data harvesting.
He stressed that what is buried in the ground of Orire and Igbeti Axis is almost the same as what is being exploited already in Ikanmu and Igbojaye areas.
His words: “By the grace of God, I am at the helms of affairs of exploring and exploiting the solid mineral deposit in Oyo State. I usually tell everybody that the governor is in support of what we do in the agency. Anytime we call on him, he is always willing to hear us. And he has approved data mining and data harvesting of what we have in the ground in Oyo State.
“I call it billions in the ground because we have so much in the ground that is yet to be exploited and we cannot do that if we don’t have a concise, articulated and scientific driven data about what we have in the ground and that is what we are working on. From our scientific analysis, what is buried in the ground of Orire, Igbeti axis, it is almost the same as what is being exploited already in Ikanmu and Igbojaye area, whichever the heart and soul of solid minerals in Nigeria.
“So, we have an abundance of the same by the geological mapping because what is happening in those areas are happening in Igbeti as well. Very soon, when we have the entire result of what we are working on, Igbeti will be a working site and mining site for solid minerals.”
While delivering his goodwill Eater message at Oke Okin Mountain, Hon Abiodun said Easter Monday is a day set aside to identify and observe as the reason for the season, which is about the resurrection, forgiveness and selfless service that the Lord has made for humanity, especially for christians.
According to him, “today is the day the Lord has made. We are here today for the Easter celebration in Igbeti, Olorunsogo Local Government. This is a celebration that brings everybody together.”
“Every Easter Monday, we come on this mountain called ‘Oke Okin’. In the evening, we will be going to ‘Oke Iyamapo as well. We come here; Christians, Muslims and Traditional worshippers, to celebrate with one another and to thank God for our lives. It is also the day we actually identify and observe as the reason for the season, which is about the resurrection, forgiveness and selfless service that the Lord made for humanity, especially for Christians.
“When I was talking to our people, I told them that our Governor is selfless. There were so many people that worked against him in his previous journey to the seat of power but he is working with everybody today. It is an indulgence because it is not easy to be selfless and easy to forgive. But because our Lord, Jesus Christ has set that example for us, we should all try to imbibe the same. That is the message. He is the governor of everybody in the state.
“Today, we are here to continue to ensure that those tenets and character are continuous and everybody believes and carry it out in all that we do.”
Hon Abiodun Oni who was flanked by the chairmanship, vice-chairmanship and Councilorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party for Olorunsogo in the forthcoming Local Government elections said the ten councilors represent different Stakeholders.
He added that they have all agreed to move Igbeti town together from it present position to where it should be among it contemporaries.
His words: “Concerning this gathering, couple of councillors are there right now. We have all the 10 councillors here. We have the Chairman and vice chairman. We have agreed that what is most important for us in the community is the town of Igbeti. So, we are all together in the same spirit of Easter what this portends for us is that we are all united.
“The councillors represent different stakeholders and we have all agreed that we should move the town forward. I am happy for that actually. God has intervened and we are all happy together.”
