Contrary to claims in some quarter that there was no oil discovery in Aran-Orin, Irepodun Local Area of Kwara State, the Alaran of Aran-Orin, Oba Joseph Oyeyipo Uabalola, has said the community had decided to keep mute on the development for fear of possible breakout of border disputes with the neighboring Osun State.

However, residents of the town expressed optimism that the state would soon join the leagues of oil producing states in the country.

According to the monarch, a team led by a geologist from the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Abuja, recently visited the much-publicized oil site and took some samples for test.

Babalola, who dropped the hint in a chat with our reporter during a fact-finding tour of the town last weekend, however, added that until the report of the findings is released, he had been mandated not to entertain any "publicity" on the development.

He noted that the site was just few metres away from the adjoining boundary of Osun State.

To him, Osun, being an Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) controlled state, could find means of causing boundary disputes as a result of the discovery.

It would be recalled that the monarch had said in an interview that: "A year ago the discovery came when a farmer Tajudeen Babalola was in the farm and wanted to drink water from a shallow well and discovered there were particles on the top of the water. 1 Ic later went to the village to inform I he people, who followed him to ascertain what the substance is. On getting there they saw something that resembled engine oil floating on lop of the water.

"Samples of the oil specimen were taken to the state Ministry of Solid Minerals. The ministry later came to rejoice with the community that it was oil that they discovered. The sample was shown to us and here it is".

Also, the state Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, had in August last year, announced that crude oil had been discovered in the town (Aran-Orin town).

Cross section of the villagers, who spoke with our reporter were optimistic of a better future, stressing that by the time the discovery was fully established, it would usher in meaningful transportation and sustainable development in the town.

The people said they had do iota of doubt that the initial pronouncement by the state government on the discovery was true.

However, one of them who simply gave his name as Mr Ajiboye, said the villagers feared that the development, if not properly managed, could lend to environmental pollution and high level of inequality being expressed by the people of Niger Delta region.

Ajiboye, who lives in Kaje, a small settlement where the oil site is located as discovered during National Pilot's tour, said the Obi had directed that no one should be take to the site without his approval.

He also said male farmers in the village grow pepper and tomato in large quantities, while palm oil business is strictly for females.

His view was corroborated by Abdullahi Usman, an Igala man, who described the discovery as a blessing for the area.

Our reporter, however, observed that there is no access road from Aran-Orin end to the village (Faje), tirus requiring those coming from that end to pass through Ora Igbomina-Alagbede axis of Osun State.

The settlement, as observed by National Pilot, lacks electricity, hospital, potable water and school, among cither social amenities, a development that leaves the villagers at the mercy of the neighboring Alagbede town, particularly when it comes to education and healthcare service.

Meanwhile, when contacted last Friday, for latest development on the issue, the state Commissioner for Industry and Solid Minerals, Umar Aliyu declined comment.

A similar effort at the state office of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), also proved abortive as the office: r in-charge was said to have gone out.

By Sulyman Yusuf (National Pilot)