Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has reignited public debate over the handling of funds meant for victims of the January 2024 Ibadan explosion, alleging that Oyo State received N50 billion from the Federal Government as special intervention funding, contrary to claims by the state government.
Fayose made the allegation while appearing on a national television programme earlier in the week, where he stated that the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde received substantial federal support following the deadly explosion in the Bodija area of Ibadan.
The governor subsequently challenged Fayose to provide evidence to support the claim.
In response, Fayose on Friday released what he described as official government documents from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), which he said showed that Oyo State requested and was allocated N50 billion as intervention funding for the reconstruction of Bodija and its environs after the explosion.
According to the document, dated August 29, 2024, and addressed to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Oyo State was listed among states seeking special intervention funds, with N50 billion earmarked specifically for post-explosion reconstruction efforts.
The letter further indicated that while a total of N450.7 billion had been disbursed nationwide for similar interventions, an outstanding balance remained for several states, including Oyo.
Fayose, however, alleged that only about N4.5 billion was eventually released to victims of the Ibadan explosion, accusing the Makinde administration of diverting the balance for political purposes.
“Yesterday, the governor asked me to provide evidence that such money was received, and I have now made the document public,” Fayose said.
“Even though it is not in my character to release official government documents, I had to do this so Nigerians will know who is telling the truth and who has not been sincere with the people of Oyo State.”
The former governor further claimed that the alleged diversion of funds was linked to Governor Makinde’s presidential ambition, which he said was at the root of internal crises within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the governor’s frequent criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government.
As of the time of filing this report, the Oyo State Government has not issued a detailed response to the newly released document, beyond its earlier denial of receiving N50 billion as claimed by Fayose.
The controversy has sparked renewed calls from civil society groups and residents of Ibadan for greater transparency and accountability in the management of public funds, particularly those earmarked for disaster relief and victim compensation.
But earlier, the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has denied claims by former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, that the state received ₦50 billion from the Federal Government as intervention funds for victims of the January 2024 Ibadan explosion.
Reacting to the allegation after Fayose made the claim on a national television programme, Governor Makinde described the assertion as false and misleading, insisting that Oyo State did not receive ₦50bn from the Federal Government for the Bodija explosion intervention.
The governor challenged Fayose to provide concrete evidence to substantiate his claim, stressing that allegations of such magnitude must be backed by verifiable facts.
“At no point did Oyo State receive ₦50 billion from the Federal Government for the Ibadan explosion,” Makinde stated, adding that all funds received by the state were properly accounted for and transparently applied.
He further suggested that the allegation was politically motivated, urging the public to disregard what he described as attempts to misinform Nigerians and tarnish the image of his administration.
Makinde maintained that his government remains committed to accountability and transparency in the management of public funds, particularly those meant for disaster response and victim support.
