IBADAN FLOOD; A MAN-MADE NATURAL DISASTER REVISITED

                              BY:IDOWU YAQUB ABIDEMI

It was deadly, it was nature’s fury at worst, it was nature’s message that our continuous negligence will eventually lead us to nowhere but perdition, it was a man-made natural disaster! A product of man stupidity versus nature’s fury, how did we end up in this mess?

The years of inept leadership, orchestrated by citizen abuse of Mother Nature brings the Pacesetter state to the news locally and internationally for wrong reason, not because the biggest city in Africa is not planned but because we have since jettisoned the urban blueprint of IBADAN! When Akala was celebrating his government environmental sanitation feat when the incumbent government, then the opposition party observed that Ibadan is rapidly becoming the dirtiest city in Africa, the criticism was harsh but that was the truth and the product of that partisan judgement was the flooding that claims over 100 people.

Nigeria a country of throwing blames on every negatives and taken undeserved glory on every positive, the incumbent government put all the blame on the doorstep of the most vulnerable Governor ever to rule Oyo state; Otunba Alao Akala, I refused to join the bandwagon, Akala may have not perform to the expectation of the opposition and admire alike, but he surpassed my expectation since they say you cannot give what you don’t have! What Akala have he gave with highest zeal.

The Ajimobi government may see their attack on their generally vilified predecessor as a political point, but the governor must realise that His government will not be measure by oratory and stinging attack on opposition, beside, 4years is very close in sight and Oyo people’s insatiable appetite for change is legendary, so now is the time to stop frivolities if He really want to join the folklore of people that contributed to the development of Oyo in particular and Yoruba race in general

Finally in other to stop the future flood disaster, there is need for a blueprints on urban renewal, and the ministry of environment have a lot to do in term of environmental law enforcement and regulation, as well as educating the teeming populace on the danger of blocking the water ways, like the people of Noah that brought flood on themselves through sinful act, ours may come not by committing sin against God but against our environment! A word is enough……

IDOWU YAQUB ABIDEMI is the Administrative Secretary Centre for Sustained Dialogue [CSD] Nigeria, lives in Ibadan