“The Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth. It is our responsibility to protect and preserve it for future generations”
In 2019 shortly after he was declared the Governor-elect, Seyi Makinde, through Prince Dotun Oyelade, now Commissioner for Information alleged the administration of late Senator Abiola Ajimobi of planning to concession Agodi Gardens and Trans Amusement to government insider.
“Makinde warned those who think they can fleece the state government to have a second thought”, the statement reads. Fast forward to 2023, that same lush garden has now become a subject of intense public debate. And the reasons are not far-fetched.
Built in 1967 on 150 acres of land, the Agodi Gardens offers a panoramic view of Mokola Hill, backed by the state government secretariat, among others. The scenery place is also ideal for leisure, relaxation, and entertainment. But the Ogunpa flood disaster of 1980 sent the place into a long hibernation. Until late Abiola Ajimobi’s government decided to renovate the gardens in 2012 to the chagrin of his traducers. By 2014, the place was reopened after more than half a billion dollars had been spent on a water park, lake, mini zoo, play area for children, and picnic and gardens formed an integral part of the gardens.
“At the inception,” Bisi Oladele, veteran Journalist wrote for the Nation Newspaper in the wake of the Agodi Gardens reopening “Agodi Gardens was a reference/meeting point for botanists, zoologists, environmentalists, naturalists and users of herbs in the trado-medicinal trade. It served as a gene pool and biodiversity complex as well as an amusement park for both young and old over two decades before the flood disaster”.
Then commissioner for culture and tourism, Princess Adetutu Adeyemi also noted that the gardens are like a buffer zone that absorbs extra carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide that contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer. For those who have visited the garden, they will attest to its clean environment, fresh ambiance, and access to the natural environment that characterizes much of the place. Unfortunately, all of these are about to go up in smoke!
In essence, Governor Makinde’s government’s insistence on turning a part or whole of the garden into a luxurious real estate demonstrates an exercise in doublespeak and inconsistency. He might have forgotten what he said of the place in the past but the fact of the past will always stand the test of time. First, the government says the place has become a hideout for criminals. The only way to change the security narrative of that place is to mow down rare trees, clear the forest, and plant a housing estate for big men.
But when that muted excuse fell by the wayside, it said the estate project would bridge the housing deficit in the state. You might wonder who exactly will benefit from that kind of project. And your guess would be as good as mine that it is the same big men and women of means atop the social economic and political ladders. Far from helping the poor to have shelter over their heads, the project will only add to the housing collections of the proletariat who don’t have an urgent need for shelter other than to attempt to satisfy their fantasies and vanities.
Due to its watery explanations and justification of the gardens, the state government has had to fight tooth and nail to contain public outcry and criticism against it – to no avail. In a way, if you follow the story quite well, you will realize it has not been an easy one for the handlers of the government. From the commissioner of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Williams Akin-Funmilayo, to that of Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, the heat of the moment has been unnerving and overwhelming. As public anger and displeasure grew over the proposed estate, today, a powerful protest and demonstration will take place against the planned destruction and disruption of the gardens in the heart of Ibadan. Fun seekers, environmentalists, and naturalists will troop out en masse to express their disaffection. Sadly, that may not stop Governor Makinde from going ahead with his plan. Still, history will not forget those who stood their ground in the face of tyranny and blackmail.
Citing insecurity as an excuse for the planned estate is ridiculous. In the first instance, whose job is it to protect the people and their property? When you are being paid to do a job, isn’t it morally expected that you do the job very well otherwise you throw in the towel? Is it new or strange that the vast majority of the gardens have become a haven for men of the underworld? Unsurprising. Criminals will always take advantage of anything including an unguarded and unprotected forest. Hiding under the pretense of insecurity shows incompetence, ineptitude, and failure. We are all witnesses to the way the late Abiola Ajimobi cleared the infamous Soka forest. Instead of waiting to reflect on what would be built in that space, while the outlaws enjoyed a free ride, the late Ajimobi didn’t mince words in unleashing the firepower of the state against the ritualists and kidnappers. He was firm and resolute.
In a way, what is stopping Governor Makinde from acting with the same zeal and zest against criminals troubling that area? Destroy criminals through kinetic means and then plan on what to do after. We still don’t know the government’s plan in returning and restoring sanity, sanctity, and normalcy to that place other than its insistence on building that premium real estate condo.
You may want to ask: How is Governor Makinde protecting and preserving one of Oyo’s most consequential legacies?
Muftau Gbadegesin’s opinion about issues affecting Oyo state and is published every Saturday.
