Oyetola Denies Allegations Of Maladministering ‘Mining License’, Says Gov Adeleke Trying To Divert Attention Away From Ineptitude
Immediate past governor of Osun state, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, has described as wicked and untrue the claim by Governor Ademola Adeleke that he attempted selling off the state mining licences before stepping aside on November 26, 2022.
Oyetola’s media aide, Mr. Ismail Omipidan in a statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com noted that contrary to the governor’s claim, it was his boss who made sense of Osun’s assets in the mining sector through the government’s seven -project streams in its Osun Minerals Development Plan.
The statement added that but for Oyetola administration’s conscious efforts at developing the sector, Osun would have since lost all its 17 mining licences.
‘The misinformation from Governor Adeleke and his team should ordinarily not have found its way to the public space, if they are sincere especially at this period when both Muslims and Christians are seeking the face of God, their creator, asking for forgiveness and better guidance in the months ahead.
But for the need to set the record straight, we would have ignored them’ Omipidan added.
The statement claimed the current administration in the state had continued to look for ways and means to take attention away from the governor’s alleged ineptitude, hence, the resort to cheap blackmail through misinformation.
‘In just two years, the Oyetola administration was able to commercialize the mineral assets and executed agreements with Badger Mines and Pan Arabian Mines for the purpose of exploration. Thankfully, the Omoluabi-Badger commercial Gold buying and refining centre ( CBRC) Osu, was completed with the state-of-the-art refining capacity before we stepped aside last year.
We also concluded the resource valuation of our assets in Kogi with a view to setting up a world-class mine and quarry in Kogi. We also set up MIREMCO ( Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee) to regulate mining activities in the state. Oyetola never sold or made attempt to sell any of Osun Mineral Licence. Instead, he acquired more mineral licences for Osun.
Out of the 17 licences earlier acquired by the state, the Oyetola administration added two extra licenses another two was even initiated for processing. The assets remained in Omoluabi’s name in a JV partnership for the purpose of asset development.
It is on record that the Oyetola administration developed the most robust solid mineral development plan in a sector that had gone comatose before he assumed office for which the Omoluabi Licences were already published in the papers for revocation in 2019 just at the beginning of his administration.
It took the commitment of Oyetola to recover the Licences, clear all the arrears, regularize the Licenses and embark on immediate commercialization of the assets seeking suitable partners that are technically qualified and financially capable to take over the early risk of the capital intensive mineral exploration. He never sold any. Instead, the state benefited from signature bonuses paid by the technical partners.
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. None of the assets were forfeited. Instead, Oyetola acquired extra gold Licences for the state as the ones owned are close to expiration.
Governor Adeleke and his team are already in close talks with the investors urging them to continue their mineral exploration efforts . This is just to prove that none of the assets were sold but remained in a JV partnership initiated by Oyetola administration to avoid ‘use it or lose it’ policy of the FG
The records are there’ the statement said- Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you
