Oyo: Neglect turns Agbele hill into garbage dump

Oyo state is blessed with several tourist sites with potential of generating millions in income and employment opportunities for the people.

Agbele hill situated along Ago Aare axis, Igbeti in Olorunsogo Local Government Area of Oyo state is one of the tourist sites.

 

Despite its intimidating and enviable potential, the unique Agbele-human-like-rock structure that welcomes visitors to the town of 16 hills -Igbeti appears to have been forgotten, as the tourist site suffers total neglect both from successive administrations and the present administration in the self acclaimed Pace setter state – Oyo.

While the tourist site is waiting to be officially recognized, developed and generate revenue, outlaws have turned the spot into a refuse dump site, and the surroundings endemic in the open defecation practice, putting children at risk of diarrhoea and other diseases and wreaking havoc in its landscape.

In a chat with our reporter, one of the residents, Mr Adebayo Tawheed said, “more and more refuse is being dumped here. The fence and gate awarded several years ago have been abandoned. Our foundation, a Non – Governmental was responsible for the cleaning in collaboration with secondary school students because this is our own heritage and the rock is very dear to us. It has become a recognisable symbol of not just Igbeti town, but Oke-Ogun and Oyo state”.

Due to the tourist site’s bleak state, Adebayo, therefore called on the state government to declare a state of emergency on the monument so as to  prevent people from continued damage. The fascinating Agbele Rock with its delicate balance wore a physical representation which appears like a woman with a basket on her head and a child strapped to her back.

It was further learnt that this rock formation was formed when a woman stole some yam tubers from a rocky part of the village which was being dried in the sunlight. Surprisingly, like Lot’s wife in the holy Bible who became a pillar of salt after she looked back at Sodom, the woman also became a permanent fixture on the spot.

But unfortunately, the monument, which attracted first time visitors to Igbeti and that could have served as economic booster is now in ruin. Agbele Hill lives in the past glory, as the once great tourist centre is now nothing, but the shadow of itself due to total abandonment.

And the song on the lips of the people of the town housing the monument has since been, “government come to our aid”.

When will Agbele Hill’s prayers be answered?