I have actually been waiting to read from the media almajiris of Governor Seyi Makinde to validate the conversion of Ogunpa Dam Forest Reserve to a housing estate. The essence of my wait is actually to see the level of their intellectual capacity in order for us to have an intellectual masturbation on the conversion of the Forest Reserve to a housing estate. Unfortunately, one of them who reacted through a piece which is now in circulation has shown that he is a misfit when it comes to such conversation.
It is so shameful and disgraceful that the intellectual vegetables surrounding the Governor kept repeating the same argument that the Forest Reserve has become a criminal hideout. Such argument has only helped revalidate the argument in some quarters that this administration has failed in terms of security which ordinarily should constitute the core objective of every government.
It is interesting to note that the Amotekun Corps has an outpost just below the forest reserve. If Amotekun operatives could not secure the immediate perimeter of their outpost, it says much about their inefficiency.
For the sake of this conversation, let us assume without conceding that it has truly become a criminal hideout, a working government will see such as a high-level security risk and take up the challenge of mapping out working strategy to address security issues.
Admitting, on behalf of the State government that the Forest Reserve which should even start as a point of tourism has become a criminal hideout is self-indictment. If Nigeria were to be a working country, the larger population of people in Oyo State would have commenced call for the relief of Seyi Makinde as Governor of the State because he has admitted to being a failure.
The writer also claimed, as a follow-up to the declaration of the Governor (as said by him (the writer) that remains of human beings were seen in that forest. Shouldn’t we then ask what came out of a forensic investigation that was conducted? Or, was the issue buried? Should that not have called for the sack and questioning of the sector commander of Amotekun in that axis? Has any arrest been made?
Governor Seyi Makinde and his acolytes should desist from insulting our collective intelligence as a people. In fact, it is more dignified to confront the creatures of hell than exist in a fool’s paradise. But, this reaction is critical in order to ensure that the yahoo-yahoo writer is not successful at bending the argument where it was never intended.
Unlike what we have been able to do, neither the Governor nor those trying to whitewash the issue have been able to concretely raise arguments as to why the Forest Reserve must be converted to a housing estate. If insecurity is their argument for pulling down the trees at that location, it is best said that both Seyi Makinde and everyone around him are bereft of ideas. It’s disastrous.
The argument we have been able to raise is far beyond the issue of “climate change” which Governor Seyi Makinde and his co-travellers disapprove. It is important to get Governor Seyi Makinde informed that the Forest Reserve also serves as water shed to protect the catchment area of Ogunpa Dam (a conservation area). I hope Seyi Makinde and his online almajiris will use search engine to read more about what a watershed is.
The effect of the destruction of this forest will, with the first few rains strike everyone in the face. The soil, considering its pervious nature will become too heavy with water, the stream beds will become higher and water will be displaced because there will be no more trees roots to absorb the greatest volume of runoff water therein.
I am convinced that Governor Seyi Makinde is not even aware that the Forest is sitting on a subterranean rock and he is also not informed of the disaster siltation of the rock could cause just as we are having it from Alesinloye market as a result of siltation of Alalubosa lake. But, that will be mild when compared to the disaster which will arise from this.
Out of the Governor’s personal gains, he is opening Ìbàdàn up for flood even more than what we had in 1980 aftermath the construction of Cultural centre which wiped away all the animals in Agodi botanical and zoological garden and claimed 363 lives. From Agodi to Dandaru to Mokola to Inalende to Oniyanrin. From Ogunpa Market to Okepadi. From Coca-Cola to Ajibade road to Old Bodija. It will be disastrous.
Kazeem Olalekan Israel
Ìbàdàn, Nigeria.
