Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has strongly refuted claims made by former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, who alleged that Makinde received ₦50 billion from the federal government for the Ibadan explosion victims and misappropriated the funds. Makinde’s media adviser, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, issued a statement on Sunday denying the allegations, labelling them as false, misleading, and politically motivated.
According to the statement, the ₦50 billion was never fully disbursed to Governor Makinde. Instead, what existed was a promissory note and a request for federal intervention following the devastating Ibadan explosion. The assertion that the entire sum was released and then pocketed by the governor is inaccurate, the statement clarified.
Governor Makinde had travelled to Abuja after the explosion to formally request federal support, as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had not yet visited the affected state. While the federal government initially promised ₦50 billion, only ₦30 billion was ultimately released. The remaining ₦20 billion was reportedly withheld due to alleged demands for inducements, which the governor refused to meet.
The released ₦30 billion, the statement detailed, is being utilized for its intended purposes. A portion of this amount was disbursed directly to victims as immediate relief, while the remainder is being allocated to reconstruction and restoration efforts in the Bodija area, which was severely impacted by the explosion.
Reconstruction work, including road repairs and ongoing rebuilding projects, is visibly underway. Plans are also in motion to establish a memorial at the explosion site to honour those who lost their lives. The governor’s administration has ensured that the funds that were actually received are being managed judiciously for the benefit of the affected community.
The ₦4.5 billion figure, which has been publicly cited, represents only direct financial support provided to victims, including landlords and tenants. This sum constitutes approximately 15% of the total funds released, with the governor prioritizing both direct victim assistance and broader governmental intervention for reconstruction.
Makinde’s camp suggested that Fayose’s allegations are politically motivated, stemming from the former governor’s recent declaration not to support President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027. The statement implied that political hostilities commenced shortly after this declaration, leading to the activation of such claims.
Furthermore, the statement addressed an alleged attempt by a group aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to establish a caretaker committee for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State. This move was deemed unlikely to succeed, with the assertion that attempts to portray Governor Makinde as dishonest or disconnected from his party will ultimately fail.
The governor remains a PDP governor whose mandate is built on performance and public trust. The statement concluded by emphasizing that Governor Makinde will not yield to political intimidation or allow fear and coercion to undermine democratic values, reiterating his firm stance on such matters.
