The Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs has assured of cooperation with the state and federal government to control mining activities in the state.
The Obas and Chiefs made this declaration after visiting the state governor’s office to commiserate with Governor Seyi Makinde over last week’s explosion at Bodija, Ibadan.
The Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Alao, who spoke on behalf of the Obas, said the traditional rulers were resolved on implementing the recent state executive order on mining.
He added that they were also committed to supporting the government through intelligence gathering, supporting security of their domains and doing all they can to prevent a recurrence.
Alao said the Obas were impressed at how the governor attended to the incident and supported soon-to-be-unveiled efforts of the government to address security lapses and measures to control activities of illegal mining in the state.
Oba Alao also urged residents of the state to support the state government by promptly feeding traditional rulers and security agencies with information on threats to the environment and livelihood of residents of the state.
Other traditional rulers, across the geopolitical zones, present were the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Moshood Balogun represented by Oba Tajudeen Abimbola; the Soun of Ogbomosho, Oba Afolabi Olaoye; Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Sefiu Oyebola; Okere of Saki, Oba Khalid Olabisi; Basorun of Oyo, High Chief Akinade Ayoola.
Others are Onpetu of Ijeru, Oba Sunday Oyediran; Iba of Kisi, Oba Aweda Lawal; Olu of Igboora, Oba Jimoh Titiloye; Akinbio of Ilora, Oba Stephen Oyeniyi; Onilala of Lanlate, Oba Sunday Oladejo.