With great honour, I write to inform you about the hardship the people of Igbeti are going through even from the presence of marble resources which should have been a blessing if tapped into.
Firstly, I will like to congratulate you on your election as the executive governor of Oyo state.
I cannot but register my displeasure about the deplorable state of the marble company in the state which used to be a source of revenue generation for the state and the country but has now been made redundant.
I will also like to draw your attention to the land of Igbeti which is absolutely endowed with mineral resources, most especially “Marble”. It is unfortunate that despite the presence of marble in Igbeti land, residents in the community still wallow in poverty because the resources are not tapped into.
Going back in history, Igbeti Marble in Olorunsogo local government here in Oyo State was discovered in 1970s. It was then tapped into which paved way for thousands of workers to be employed. The investment then had a positive impact on the economy of the state. But in subsequent government abandoned the opportunity up till now as the company which was another source of revenue for the state is now redundant.
The refusal of the state to utilise this marble resources has now created another big challenge for the people of Igbeti land. This is because we can hardly plant yam and other food crops as the marble has occupied the ground and it is up to six feet deep. Also, getting water is another challenge we face because whenever we dig to make a well, marble is all we find, thus making the miners to be discouraged.
His excellency, our marble is one of the finest in the world as it needs no chemical to make it attractive. The marble can be used for the following:
i) FLOORING
ii) NEUTRALISLZING ACIDS
iii ) FOR BUILDING AND SCRIPTURES
iv ) CONSTRUCTION AGGRAGATE
V.) SOIL TREATMENT
Vi ) BRIGHTENER
Vii . FILLER
Viii PIGMENT TIN
Viii. NIOBIUM AND MANY MORE.
It is rather unfortunate that the land which house such great natural resources has her youths venture into motorcycle business. Record in the past shows that the country had excelled more when it ventured into the production of cocoa, cotton and rubber, only to be carried away by the discovery of crude oil which supposed to serve as additional revenue creation for the country.
Mr. Governor, I believe very strongly that you are a committed and progressive minded leader who can paddle the canoe of Oyo State into a promise Land. as a belief of people to voted for you and I pray that you will perform excellently and never disappoint people who have the trust in you as I also do.
I will like to charge you innovative leader who can forseen and always looking at the issue from inners perspective e.g embarking on Mineral Recources as well as agriculture and all other natural source of income .
The abandone of Igbeti marble resources is one of the wrong I will charge you to rewrite in the state. Efforts should also be made to encourage the indulgence of youth in Agriculture as it is a well of wealth for the state and the country.
I believe If action is taken towards the aforementioned issue, the state revenue will accrue, Nigeria economy will match forward and the people of Igbeti land will never forget you.
Conclusively, I will like to congratulate you once again on your new position as the newly elected governor of Oyo state. May you never go astray and may you receive the wisdom to paddle the canoe of the state to the desired destination as I will not forget to inform you that development in any environment can only be determined by the charismatic tendency of the current leadership.
Abideen Owolabi also known as OWOBLOW writes from Igbeti. He was the former National President of (FISA) FEDERATION OF IGBETI STUDENTS ASSOCIATION.
