Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has asked former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, to back up his claim that Makinde received ₦50bn from President Bola Tinubu after the January 2024 Ibadan explosion.
Makinde had visited Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in January 2024 to submit a report on the blast, which killed five people, injured 77 and damaged about 55 houses in Ibadan.
However, speaking on TVC on Friday, Fayose alleged that Makinde got ₦50bn from the Presidency to manage the aftermath of the disaster, claiming the money did not go directly into Oyo State’s coffers.
The allegation was amplified by Fayose’s former aide, Lere Olayinka, who wrote on Facebook that while Makinde allegedly received ₦50bn, only ₦4.5bn was disbursed to victims.
“Ibadan Gomina General got N50bn from Tinubu’s govt, only to release N4.5bn to victims of Ibadan explosion of January 2024,” Olayinka wrote.
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Responding in an interview with Punch, Makinde’s Chief Press Secretary, Sulaimon Olarenwaju, dismissed the claims as unfounded and challenged Fayose and his associates to produce evidence.
“There is no substance to the claim. If he (Fayose) has proof that the Federal Government gave N50bn, he should provide it. It is not just about going on air to say rubbish,” Olarenwaju said.
“If he has evidence, he should come forward with it. I don’t think we should waste time on these guys,” he added.
The Oyo State Government insists that all steps taken by the Makinde administration after the explosion were transparent and focused on supporting victims and rebuilding affected communities.