One wouldn’t argue the excellent talent and potential disovery abilities of His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde, especially in appointing capable hands to man most important agencies and ministries of the government of Oyo State. One of such is the appointment(s)of Mr. Abiodun Oni, a trained geologist who until his first political appointment was a successful Director of an Oil and Gas company. The Igbeti-born geologist brought to limelight, the Oyo State Mineral Development Agency where he served as Executive Chairman in the first two years of Engr Seyi Makinde with a stellar performance. No one would have believed such agency existed or that the state is still blessed with such enormous Natural Resources and the potentials therein, which swiftly attracted the unusual presence and patronage of the present Federal Government’s Ministry of Mines and Steel and both local and foreign expatriates. I see him as a man of more action than rhetorics.
Since the assumption of office of new and “returned” Cabinet Members in the state, one of the most important and highly impacted areas is the reinvigorated and rejigged Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, headed by the Okunrin jeje (Gentleman) Abiodun Oni. Prior to his assumption of office, the State, had degenerated into a total mess and a shadow of the legacies laid by the Late Rt. Hon. Kehinde Ayoola of blessed memory, who during his brief but impactful time in office converted some artificial dump sites, like Alakia Interchange and other spots, known for indiscriminate dropping of dungs and heaps of refuse to a cynosure of all eyes.
Major roads across the state were filled with debris, residents with active subscription to private refuse collectors became unattended to, and left to live a unhealthy lifestyle with polluted environment. There were complaints of poor evacuation, disposal and dumping at refuse sites, while some “media houses” capitalised on that to discredit the incumbent government, not minding the fact that the onus rested on the private contractors who were at loggerheads with the government based on personal interest and cared not what happens to the health, wealth and status of the state.
Being a distant admirer, I melted the very first day I saw him interacting and giving orientation to roadside traders and market men and women at New Gbagi market just two days after assumption of office. On this fateful day, Hon. Commissioner led environmental officers and trucks in evacuating stocks of refuse on road median and illegal garbage dump points in a cleanup drive with full commitment and humility. A man of such calibre meeting with representatives of each market, applying diplomacy instead of the “Obis” draconian approach we used to know, in his quest to protect and provide a healthy living environment for everyone and also enhance the aesthetically pleasing environment to attract tourists and investors with a scintillating view and fresh air for residents of the state.
This is quite laudable and we hope that we abide by environmental laws to maintain the best refuse disposal methods and have a cleaner and healthier environment under the Gentleman Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources; Mr Abiodun Oni and His Excellency Engr. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde.
Akinloluwa writes from Egbeda.