• Alleges balance withheld over refusal to pay kickbacks 

•As Fayose leaks request memo 

The Oyo State Government has vehemently debunked allegations made by former Governor Ayodele Fayose that the Federal Government released N50 billion to Governor Seyi Makinde, claiming that the governor kept silent on the fund to save it for a presidential ambition.

In a statement released on Sunday by Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Special Adviser on Media to the Oyo State Governor, the administration described Fayose’s claims as misleading and deliberately disingenuous.
Recall that Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose leaked documents which he claims show that Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, received ₦50 billion from the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a statement signed by him on Sunday Fayose said he decided to make the documents public to allow Nigerians judge for themselves whether the Oyo State Government had been transparent.

He also challenged Makinde to seek legal redress if his claims were false, insisting that additional records exist showing other federal intervention funds allegedly received by Oyo State but never disclosed to the public.

Fayose further claimed to be in possession of documents detailing what he described as the actual Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Oyo State, which he said differs from figures publicly presented by the governor.

He maintained that he would not make allegations he could not substantiate and hinted that more documents could be released if necessary.

Fayose said: “Meanwhile, only ₦4.5bn was released to victims of the Ibadan explosion. Rather, he diverted this fund and many others to his presidential ambition, which is the reason for the crisis in the PDP and his attacks on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his government.”

“Also, there are documentary evidences on the actual Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Oyo State, as against Governor Makinde’s claim, but we will keep our gunpowder dry for now. My name is still Ayo Fayose; I don’t say what I can’t prove.”
Reacting however, Makinde’s Special Adviser clarified that while the Federal Government indeed promised a support package following the tragic January 2024 Bodija explosion, the full amount was never disbursed.

According to Olanrewaju, Governor Makinde had personally travelled to Abuja after the explosion to present a comprehensive report to President Bola Tinubu, which led to a promise of N50 billion support.

However, he revealed that when it was time for implementation, only N30 billion was released.

The Governor’s aide alleged that the remaining N20 billion was withheld because Governor Makinde refused to accede to demands for inducements tied to the disbursement of the balance.

The statement further explained that the N30 billion released was utilized transparently, with a portion transferred directly to victims as immediate relief and the remainder deployed for infrastructure rebuilding, repairs of affected roads, and the strengthening of security architecture to prevent a recurrence.

The SA further clarified that the N4.5 billion often cited in public discourse represented only the 15 percent direct cash support given to landlords and tenants, while the bulk of the fund went into the ongoing extensive reconstruction work at the blast site.

Addressing the timing of the allegations, the Oyo State Government attributed the sudden onslaught of falsehoods to Governor Makinde’s recent public declaration that he would not support President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

He noted that political hostilities were activated almost immediately after Makinde expressed regret over his 2023 support for the President and warned against the push for a one-party state.

The media adviser also linked the recent constitution of a so-called PDP caretaker committee in the state by a group aligned with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to these retaliatory maneuvers, describing the move as a desperate attempt to destabilize the governor’s political structure.

He insisted that the attempt to portray Makinde as dishonest or ungrateful is dead on arrival, as his mandate is rooted in performance and the trust of the Oyo people rather than backroom political theatrics.

The statement concluded by asserting that Governor Makinde remains resolute in his stance against political intimidation and the dismantling of democracy, emphasizing that he will not be complicit in silence even if he has to stand alone.

He urged Nigerians to see through the mischief, maintaining that truth does not need protection but only needs to be told without fear.