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 quiet about to fund a future presidential ambition, describing the allegation as false, misleading and driven by political desperation.
In a statement on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the governor said no such ₦50 billion was ever disbursed to the Oyo State Government, stressing that Fayose failed to provide any evidence of payment because none existed.
“The Federal Government did not give Governor Makinde ₦50 billion. What exists on record is a request and a promise, not a disbursement.
“Even the memo being circulated only shows what was proposed, not what was released.”
The statement explained that following the January 2024 explosion in Bodija, Ibadan, which claimed lives and destroyed property, Governor Makinde personally travelled to Abuja with a detailed report and formally requested federal support after President Bola Tinubu did not visit the state.
According to the governor’s aide, the Federal Government promised a ₦50 billion intervention package but eventually released only ₦30 billion.
“A promise is not a release. When it came time to act, only ₦30 billion was released. The balance of ₦20 billion was withheld after demands for inducements were allegedly tied to its disbursement, which the governor refused,” Olanrewaju noted.
He argued that it would have been inappropriate for the governor to publicly litigate negotiations around a national tragedy or hold press conferences about funds that were promised but not released.
“What matters is what was done with the money that actually came,” the statement added.
Olanrewaju said Governor Makinde acknowledged the Federal Government’s support during the inauguration of a transparent committee set up to manage and disburse the relief funds.
The committee, he said, ensured accountability and compassion in the use of the money.
He explained that part of the ₦30 billion was paid directly to victims as immediate relief, while the rest was deployed for reconstruction and restoration within the affected Bodija axis.
According to him, damaged roads have been repaired, rebuilding is ongoing, and plans are underway for a memorial at the explosion site to honour those who lost their lives.
The statement also clarified that the ₦4.5 billion figure often cited publicly referred strictly to direct financial support given to victims, including landlords and tenants.
“That amount represents about 15 per cent of the total funds released. The governor ensured direct support for victims while also funding broader government interventions. Anyone who visits the area can see the reconstruction work,” Olanrewaju said.
Describing the allegations as politically motivated, the governor’s spokesman linked the renewed attacks to Makinde’s recent declaration that he would not support President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
He recalled that Makinde had supported Tinubu in 2023, a decision the governor has since said he regrets, citing concerns about what he described as growing attempts to push Nigeria towards a one-party state.
In his words: “That statement marked a turning point. Almost immediately, political hostilities were activated.”
He pointed to the recent attempt by a group aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to set up a purported PDP caretaker committee in Oyo State, an effort he said lacked legitimacy and was rejected by key party figures.
“These actions are not driven by principle. They are driven by desperation,” the statement said.
Olanrewaju maintained that efforts to portray Makinde as dishonest or disconnected from his party would fail, noting that he remains one of the few serving PDP governors whose mandate is anchored on performance and public trust.
“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,” he said.
He added that the issue goes beyond partisan politics and touches on the future of Nigeria’s democracy saying: “This is about whether fear, coercion and political intimidation will be allowed to undermine democratic values,” Olanrewaju stated. “Governor Makinde has made his position clear. He will not be complicit.”
He maintained that truth does not require defence, only clarity and courage.
“History has a long memory, the choices made today will define how today’s actors are remembered tomorrow,” the statement concluded.
