Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has dismissed allegations by former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, that he had received N50 billion from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu – led Federal Government for victims of the Ibadan explosion and rehabilitation of affected infrastructure.
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Makinde also denied chaim that he was hoarding the funds to pursue his 2027 presidential ambition.
The Governor amid controversy over the said N50 billion relief fund, said that the federal government released only N30 billion, not N50 billion, as support for the January 2024 Bodija – Ibadan explosion.
Fayose had on Sunday released a documentary evidence to support his claim that Makinde, received N50 billion from the Federal Government as a special intervention fund following the January 2024 explosion.
The documents were supported with a memo from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
The ex – Governor of Ekiti State said the disclosure followed a challenge by Makinde to substantiate his earlier claim that the Oyo State Government received the funds.
But speaking through his Special Adviser, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Makinde described the allegation as misleading and deliberately disingenuous.
“Recent comments attributed to former governor Ayodele Fayose, alleging that the federal government handed N50 billion to Seyi Makinde and that the governor chose to stay silent while saving up the money to support his presidential ambition, are not only misleading, they are deliberately disingenuous,” he said
“The federal government did not give the governor N50 billion. This is why Fayose was unable to provide evidence to show the disbursement when asked to do so. In fact, the memo he shared shows what was not disbursed. What exists on record is a request and a promise, not a disbursement of N50 billion, he said.
The Governor noted that after the January 2024 explosion, which claimed lives and destroyed properties in Bodija, he personally visited Abuja with a detailed report and a formal request for assistance.
“Following that engagement, the federal government promised a ₦50 billion support package. When it was time to act, only ₦30 billion was released. This partial release was accompanied by demands for inducements tied to the disbursement of the balance. Makinde refused. As a result, the remaining ₦20 billion was withheld,” he stated.
However, the aide, who also doubles as the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, wondered whether the governor should have publicly announced the stalled negotiations.
“Was the governor expected to convene a press conference to announce that the federal government had promised ₦50 billion, released ₦30 billion, and was withholding ₦20 billion? Or to publicly litigate negotiations around a national tragedy? What matters is what was done with the funds that were released.”
According to him, Makinde acknowledged the federal government’s support during the inauguration of a transparent committee established to oversee the disbursement of relief funds.
“Of the ₦30 billion released, some money was transferred directly to victims as immediate support, whilst the remainder was deployed for rebuilding and restoration.
“Roads within the affected axis were repaired, reconstruction is ongoing, and a planned memorial at ground zero will honour the lives lost. Policies and security architecture have also been upgraded and strengthened to ensure that such an incident does not recur in Oyo State,” he said.
He added that the ₦4.5 billion often cited by critics refers only to direct payments made to victims.
“This represents 15 per cent of the total sum released. Governor Makinde found a way to provide 15 per cent direct support to landlords and tenants, demonstrating his usual empathy, while ensuring that the government carried out broader interventions. Indeed, a visit to the affected areas will show the reconstruction being done”, he added.
He further linked the renewed criticism of the governor to recent political developments, noting Makinde’s public declaration that he would not support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
“Almost immediately, political hostilities were activated. Just days ago, a group aligned with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, attempted to constitute a so-called PDP Oyo State caretaker committee, in blatant disregard of political reality and party structure. As expected, the only two credible names associated with that effort publicly distanced themselves from the exercise,”he said.
According to Olanrewaju, “The attempt to portray Governor Makinde as dishonest, ungrateful, or disconnected from the structure of his party is dead on arrival. Half-truths and outright falsehoods may offer temporary comfort to those who trade in political mischief, but they always collapse under the weight of facts.”
