Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has dismissed claims by former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, that the Federal Government handed him ₦50 billion which he allegedly kept to fund a future presidential ambition, describing the allegation as false, misleading and politically- motivated.
In a press statement issued yesterday (Sunday, December 28) by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the Governor said no such ₦50 billion disbursement was ever made to the Oyo State Government, stressing that available records only show a promise by the Federal Government, not a full release of funds.
The controversy is linked to the January 2024 Bodija explosion in Ibadan, which claimed lives, destroyed properties and displaced residents, following which Governor Makinde reportedly travelled to Abuja with a detailed report of the disaster and formally requested support from the federal government.
The statement said President Bola Tinubu’s administration subsequently promised a ₦50 billion support package to assist the state with relief, rebuilding and restoration efforts.
However, only ₦30 billion was eventually released.
“What exists on record is a request and a promise, not a disbursement of ₦50 billion,” the statement said, adding that the memo circulated by Fayose ironically proves that the full amount was never paid.
The Governor’s aide further alleged that the release of the remaining ₦20 billion was tied to demands for inducements, which Governor Makinde refused to give, leading to the balance being withheld.
The statement questioned the expectation that the Governor should have publicly disclosed ongoing negotiations surrounding a national tragedy, insisting that what mattered was how the released funds were utilised.
It clarified that Governor Makinde publicly acknowledged the federal government’s support during the inauguration of a committee set up to transparently oversee the disbursement of relief funds.
The committee, according to the statement, ensured accountability and proper utilisation of the ₦30 billion received.
Of the released funds, the statement said ₦4.5 billion representing about 15 percent was paid directly to victims, including landlords and tenants, as immediate relief while the remainder was committed to reconstruction and restoration projects within the affected Bodija axis.
“These include road repairs, ongoing rebuilding works, enhanced security measures and the planned construction of a memorial at ground zero to honour lives lost,” the statement added, noting that the interventions are verifiable through visits to the affected areas.
Addressing the timing of the allegations, the statement linked the renewed attacks on Governor Makinde to his recent declaration that he would not support President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Makinde had earlier supported Tinubu in the 2023 election, a decision he has since publicly said he regrets.
The statement claimed that following this declaration, political hostilities intensified, including an alleged attempt by allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to impose a caretaker committee on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, a move it described as illegal and rejected by credible party figures.
“These actions are driven by desperation, not principle,” the statement stressed, maintaining that attempts to portray Governor Makinde as dishonest or disloyal would fail.
It emphasised that Makinde remains one of the few serving PDP Governors, whose mandate is anchored on performance, credibility and popular trust, rather than “manufactured outrage or backroom politics.”
The statement concluded by warning against the spread of half-truths and political intimidation, describing the current moment as critical for Nigeria’s democracy.
“Truth does not need protection. it only needs to be told, fully, clearly, and without fear,” the statement surmised.
