Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has released documents which he claims are evidence backing his allegation that Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, received a N50 billion intervention fund from the Federal Government following the January 2024 Ibadan explosion.
The publication of these documents, obtained by SPEAR NEWS on Sunday, came barely 24 hours after Governor Makinde’s office challenged Fayose to provide proof for what it labelled “baseless” claims.
The war of words ignited on Friday when Fayose, during a televised interview, alleged that Governor Makinde secured a N50 billion “presidential support package” from President Bola Tinubu in the aftermath of the Bodija explosion, which claimed five lives and destroyed dozens of buildings. Fayose claimed the fund was never disclosed to the public.
Responding on Saturday through his Chief Press Secretary, Sulaiman Olanrewaju, Governor Makinde threw down the gauntlet.
“He who makes an allegation must provide evidence. Let him produce proof for what he claims,” Olanrewaju stated in a phone interview, dismissing Fayose’s credibility in strong terms.
However, in a swift and calculated countermove, Fayose has now presented what he framed as the demanded evidence.
In a detailed statement released on Sunday, the former governor asserted, “Yesterday, the Governor responded by asking me to provide evidence that he received such money, and here is the evidence he asked for.”
The core of Fayose’s explosive allegation goes beyond the mere receipt of funds. He claims that only a fraction of the money reached the intended victims.
“Meanwhile, only N4.5bn was released to victims of the Ibadan Explosion,” Fayose stated, alleging that the remainder was diverted to fuel Governor Makinde’s presidential ambitions.
He directly linked this alleged diversion to the internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Makinde’s recent criticisms of President Tinubu’s administration.
“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,” the statement read.
Framing his decision to go public as a reluctant duty, Fayose added, “Even though it is not in my character to go public with official government documents, I had to do this so that Nigerians will know who is saying the truth.”
He further justified the revelation by citing Makinde’s own previous disclosures of private presidential meetings.
The statement culminates in a direct dare to the Oyo State governor: “Lastly, I challenge Governor Seyi Makinde to sue me on this.” In a warning that promises more revelations, Fayose hinted at possessing “documentary evidences” on other undisclosed federal intervention funds and the true state of Oyo’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), vowing to “keep our gunpowder dry for now.”
This clash is widely seen as a proxy battle reflecting the deep fractures within the opposition PDP, split between factions loyal to Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, and others. Fayose has openly declared allegiance to Wike, while Makinde is aligned with a different camp within the party.
As of press time, the Oyo State Government has yet to issue a formal response to the newly published documents.
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