Alleged N50bn Fund: Fayose Drags Makinde,Releases Documents over Ibadan Explosion Relief

Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has released purported official documents alleging Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde received N50 billion from the Federal Government as intervention funds for the January 2024 Ibadan explosion victims.​ Makinde’s administration strongly denies the claim, labeling it baseless and demanding concrete proof.​

Incident Background

The Bodija explosion on January 16, 2024, rocked Ibadan, killing five people, injuring 77 others, and destroying around 55 houses in the Government Reserved Area.​ Governor Makinde visited President Bola Tinubu shortly after to submit a report, amid calls for federal support to aid recovery efforts.​ Fayose now claims this led to the N50 billion allocation, with only N4.5 billion reaching victims.​

Fayose’s Evidence and Accusations

Fayose shared a memo from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to back his TVC interview claim made days earlier.​ He accuses Makinde of diverting the bulk of funds—plus other interventions—to fuel a secret presidential ambition, linking it to PDP internal crises and attacks on Tinubu’s government.​ Fayose reluctantly went public with the documents after Makinde challenged him to prove the allegation, insisting he holds evidence on Oyo’s true Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for later release.​

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Makinde’s Denial and Challenge

Makinde’s Chief Press Secretary, Sulaimon Olarenwaju, dismissed the claims in a Sunday Punch interview, stating no such N50 billion donation occurred and no federal announcement confirmed it.​ The Oyo government insists all explosion response actions remain transparent and victim-focused.​ Fayose countered by daring Makinde to sue, vowing readiness to defend his position in court.​

Broader Reactions

Oyo APC demands Makinde account for the alleged funds or resign, escalating political tensions.​ Fayose’s ex-aide Lere Olayinka echoed the N4.5 billion victim payout claim on social media.​ The feud highlights ongoing PDP fractures and scrutiny over state-federal aid transparency.​