Show Evidence or Keep Quiet – Makinde Tells Fayose Over ₦50bn Claim

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has firmly rejected allegations that he received ₦50 billion from President Bola Tinubu to manage the aftermath of the January 2024 Ibadan explosion.

The governor has challenged former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, to publicly present evidence to back up the claim or stop spreading what he described as falsehoods.

The allegation resurfaced following comments made by Fayose during a televised interview, where he claimed that the funds were released by the Presidency after the tragic explosion in Ibadan but were not paid into the Oyo State Government’s official accounts.

Fayose suggested that the handling of the funds lacked transparency.

The January 2024 explosion in Ibadan claimed five lives, left at least 77 people injured, and destroyed about 55 houses.

Following the incident, Governor Makinde visited President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja to submit a detailed report on the explosion and seek federal support for recovery and relief efforts.

The controversy deepened after Fayose’s former aide, Lere Olayinka, made a similar allegation on social media.

Olayinka claimed that although ₦50 billion was allegedly received, only ₦4.5 billion was released to victims affected by the explosion. His post sparked widespread reactions and renewed political debate.

Responding to the claims, Makinde’s Chief Press Secretary, Sulaimon Olarenwaju, dismissed the allegations as unfounded and misleading.

He described the claims as reckless and insisted that no such amount was received by the Oyo State Government from the Federal Government.

Olarenwaju challenged Fayose and anyone making the allegations to provide verifiable proof to support their claims. He maintained that public commentary without evidence amounts to deliberate misinformation and should not be taken seriously.

According to the state government, all funds and interventions related to the Ibadan explosion were handled openly, with clear records of disbursements made to victims and affected communities.

The administration stated that relief materials, compensation, and reconstruction efforts followed due process and were carried out in the interest of those impacted by the disaster.

The Oyo State Government also reaffirmed its commitment to accountability, stressing that it remains open to scrutiny from relevant authorities and the public.