“Why I Will Not Ban Mining In Oyo State” – Governor Makinde

By Akinwale Kasali

Following the call from different quarters urging Governor Seyi Makinde to Ban Mining in Oyo State as a result of the tragic blast in the State which led to the death of, so far, five persons with over 78 Persons sustaining various degrees of injuries, Makinde thinks otherwise. He said he will not ban mining.

Makinde said this in an interview on Channels Television on Wednesday.

When asked if he was going to ban mining in the state following the incident, Makinde said, “My approach has been a little bit different.

“I will not go out to ban mining activities because there are people who are legally mining in the state.

“They may be international investors. You will give the impression that this is a lawless environment where we will not obey our contracts, what we signed with people.

“It is a difficult route to take. When we are swimming through the situation we have found ourselves, we will not have a knee-jerk reaction to the issue.”

The areas affected by the incident include Bodija, Agbowo, Eleyele, and Orogun.

The Governor had since blamed illegal miners, who stored explosive devices in one of the buildings in Bodija for causing the explosion.

But he said that his government was on top of the situation, as President Bola Tinubu moved to help the state.

Makinde added that his government has provided temporary shelters for the victims and their families.

Pan Yoruba Group, Apapo O’odua Koya, AOKOYA, has alleged that the explosion on Tuesday in the State is an act of terrorism, blasting the Governor for saying it is as a result of the Mining activities in the State.

It, also, said the Governor was only making political statement , stating emphatically that it was a planned attack on the Yoruba State.