The Spokesperson to former governor of Osun State, Ismail Omipidan, has purportedly confirmed there was massive looting of the mining sector under the watch of his principal in the last administration.
This was the claim of Osun Democrats for Democracy, ODD, in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Comrade Adeolu Adeyefa, and made available to journalists on Tuesday, saying that it was exactly its position.
ODD added that it is in possession of full details of sectoral outcomes of the Oyetola’s administration and can, therefore, conclude that the former administration failed the people of Osun state, not only in the mining sector but across the various sectors of the society.
The statement read in part:
“We have read the long statement from the megaphone of lies and deceit, Mr. Ismail Omipidan on the gross mismanagement of Osun State mineral assets under his boss, Gboyega Oyetola. To our satisfaction, Mr. Omipidan confirmed our position in the statement of the fact that his boss, Mr. Oyetola, irresponsibly attempt to transfer mining licences belonging to the state to private firms instead of renewing them for the benefit of the state.
“For context, excerpt of Mr. Omipidan statement reads as follows “Truth is, Oyetola only sought partnerships with five firms as the terminal date of the leased mineral Licences were near so it wouldn’t revert to the FG untapped.” So, the question that begs for an answer from Mr. Omipidan and his boss, is what stopped the State Government from pursuing their revalidation instead of trying to hands them off to private firms, who are cronies of the former Governor?
“Our group had full details of sectoral outcomes of the Oyetola’s administration and we can conclude that the former administration failed the people of Osun state, not only in the mining sector but across the various sectors of the society.
“It is not so hard to read between the lines and come to the conclusion that Mr. Oyetola did not act in the interest of Osun State, more so when it is clear that the attempt to transfer the state’s mining assets to private firms occured after he lost re-election bid.
“If Mr. Oyetola had truly performed so well in the mining sector as Mr. Omipidan gleefully tried to portray, the questions he should not hesitate to provide answer for Osun people are as follows:
“How come illegal mining was elevated to a state policy under Mr. Oyetola?
“How come remittances to the state from mining activities never get to the coffer of the state?
“How come the underground water in Ijeshaland had been poluted to the point of exposing residents to series of health issues as Mr. Oyetola showed no concern?
“How come, up to the time of his defeat, Oyetola made no effort to clean the environment degraded by activities of miners?
“A lot of other questions abound, which all pointed to the fact that Mr. Oyetola mismanaged the Osun mineral resources sector. This is yet another mess that Governor Adeleke is working assiduously to clean, and we want to assure Osun people that it will be done.
“Already, Governor Adeleke had received report of the solid mineral committee, and it was discovered that Osun lost several billions of naira to series of shady practices and gross mismanagement of the mining sector under Mr. Oyetola.
“Consequently, the Adeleke administration has launched a tripartite approach to restoring normalcy within the mining sector. First approach is the engagement of the federal authority, which has already commenced, and this will result in the revalidation of mining licences, revalidated operators of the state’s mining assets, partnership with key stakeholders in the cleaning of the environment.
:The second approach is the concerted effort to stop illegal mineral mining in the state through security improvement, new solid mineral joint task force; and the engagements with mining stakeholders.
“And lastly, is to ensure that Osun people truly benefited from the mining sector through new model of mining investments, direct partnership with mining companies who are operating in Osun and new relationship with international mining companies for investment in mining sector in Osun.”
