…says the narrative resurfaced following Makinde’s recent declaration that he would not support President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027,
OYO, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | Makinde has said former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, failed to provide any evidence to back his claim that the Oyo State governor received a ₦50 billion Federal Government intervention fund under President Bola Tinubu for victims of the January 16, 2024 Bodija explosion in Ibadan.
This was disclosed by Makinde’s Special Adviser on Media and Chief Press Secretary, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, while reacting to a document released by Fayose purporting to show that Oyo State requested a ₦50 billion intervention from the Federal Government.
The explosion, which occurred around 7:45 p.m. on January 16, 2024, at 8A and 8B Aderinola Street in the Dejo Oyelese area of Old Bodija, was traced to explosives illegally stored in a private residence. The incident reportedly claimed lives, injured several persons and damaged more than 300 houses, as well as vehicles and other personal property.
Fayose had alleged that Governor Makinde received ₦50 billion from the Federal Government as intervention support for victims of the disaster. In a statement issued by his former media aide, Lere Olayinka, Fayose claimed that the funds were released to Makinde, citing a document from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
According to Fayose, the document was made public in response to Makinde’s challenge that he should provide proof of the alleged ₦50 billion disbursement. Fayose maintained that while only ₦4.5 billion was announced as support to victims, the balance was allegedly diverted for political purposes.
However, Olanrewaju dismissed Fayose’s claims as misleading and deliberately disingenuous. He said the Federal Government did not release ₦50 billion to the Oyo State Government, noting that Fayose was unable to provide evidence of any such disbursement.
He explained that the document circulated by Fayose merely reflected a request and a promise, not an actual release of ₦50 billion. Olanrewaju said that after the Bodija explosion, Governor Makinde personally travelled to Abuja with a detailed report and formally sought Federal Government support, following which a ₦50 billion intervention package was promised.
According to him, only ₦30 billion was eventually released, while the remaining ₦20 billion was withheld after the governor allegedly refused to accede to demands for inducements tied to the balance. He said the governor did not see the need to publicly dispute the partial release in the aftermath of a national tragedy.
Olanrewaju added that Makinde publicly acknowledged the Federal Government’s support during the inauguration of an independent committee set up to manage the relief funds, stressing that the committee ensured transparency and accountability.
He said part of the ₦30 billion released was paid directly to victims as immediate relief, while the remainder was used for reconstruction and restoration projects, including road repairs, rebuilding of damaged structures and plans for a memorial to honour those who lost their lives.
He clarified that the ₦4.5 billion often referenced by Fayose represented direct support to victims, amounting to about 15 per cent of the total funds released, with the balance deployed for broader interventions in the affected area.
Olanrewaju said the narrative resurfaced following Makinde’s recent declaration that he would not support President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, a position he said had triggered political hostility against the governor.
He insisted that attempts to portray Makinde as dishonest or ungrateful were baseless, stressing that the governor’s record of performance, transparency and public trust in Oyo State remained intact.
Olanrewaju concluded that falsehoods and half-truths would ultimately collapse under the weight of facts, adding that Makinde would continue to stand by his principles in defence of democracy and good governance.
