By: Olalekan S. Badmus (Phoenix)
I have just read through a hurriedly put up misinformation piece by Mr Omipidan on the recently signed partnership deal between the Osun state government and Segilola Resources Operating Limited.
Expectedly, Mr Omipidan cannot accept the economic potential of the state government’s resuscitation of shareholding agreement with the mining company after the repositioning of the mining sector by the current administration as it undoubtedly underscore the lack of transparency and accountability of the former administration in the Mining and solid Mineral sector.
Mr Omipidan in trying to understate the impact of this partnership and its benefit to the state erroneously attributed some of the potential benefits to the past administration. For the benefit of the unsuspecting public who may not be aware of his now old style gimmicks, I would love to ask some salient questions;
Mr Omipidan, could you be magnanimous enough to state in clear terms the amount received by the state under the administration of your boss and current minister of blue economy from Segilola Mining company in fulfillment of the shareholding partnership agreement signed between osun state and Segilola Resources Operating Limited.
On the contrary, the latest agreement which you erroneously termed as “nothing new” has revealed that the state will henceforth be enjoying the full benefit of her shareholding stake of 5% as signed between the state government and Segilola Resources Operating Limited in 2016.
Could you also be kind to disclose how much the state received from the FG in fulfillment of the 13% derivates from what Segilola paid to the FG between 2018 and 2022.
Furthermore, it is no more news how the administration of former Governor Oyetola paid lip service to addressing the resultant environmental degradation at the various mining sites that led to pollution of the osun river and others, the new agreement signed by the current administration will ensure proper management of mining activities.
I will implore you to also state in clear terms what Segilola company did as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the people of the state under the former administration.
The soon to be constituted MIREMCO committee will also ensure strict adherence to mining laws and regulations as against the practice under the past administration.
It is disingenuous to suggest that nothing new is happening when the administration you served bastardized the mining sector in the state. It’s much more honorable to ignore the progress the state is making under the current administration as it’s understandable that you cannot applaud them.
Olalekan S. Badmus (Phoenix) is the Special Assistant on Digital Media to the Executive Governor of Osun State.
