The Oyo State Government has provided clarity on the controversial Federal Government support fund, confirming that Governor Seyi Makinde received only N30 billion of a N50 billion package approved by President Bola Tinubu for disaster relief.
Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Special Adviser on Media to Governor Makinde, issued a detailed statement on Sunday, directly refuting claims by former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, that Makinde received a full N50 billion from the Federal Government.
Olanrewaju described Fayose’s allegation as “misleading and deliberately disingenuous.”
The statement traced the origin of the funds to the tragic January 2024 Bodija explosion in Ibadan, which resulted in loss of lives and extensive property damage. Following the incident, Governor Makinde personally travelled to Abuja to present a comprehensive report to President Tinubu, formally requesting Federal support. In response, the President approved a support package of N50 billion.
However, Olanrewaju emphasised a critical distinction: “A promise, however, is not a release.” He revealed that when the funds were due for disbursement, only N30 billion was actually released to the Oyo State Government.
Explaining the shortfall, the governor’s aide made a serious allegation, stating that the remaining N20 billion was withheld due to issues “bordering on requests for inducement.” According to him, Governor Makinde refused to comply with these accompanying demands, leading to the Federal Government withholding the balance.
“Governor Makinde refused. As a result, the remaining N20billion was withheld,” Olanrewaju stated.
The Media Adviser also dismissed insinuations that the governor remained silent about the funds to secretly save them for a future presidential ambition, questioning the logic of holding a press conference to announce a withheld balance.
He detailed the transparent application of the N30 billion that was received. A committee was inaugurated to oversee the disbursement. A portion, specifically N4.5 billion (15% of the total released), was given as direct financial support to verified victims, including landlords and tenants, of the explosion.
The remainder, he said, was deployed for rebuilding infrastructure, road repairs in the affected axis, ongoing reconstruction, and plans for a memorial. Policy and security upgrades were also implemented to prevent a recurrence.
Olanrewaju suggested that the resurrection of the funding issue is politically motivated. He linked it to Governor Makinde’s recent declaration that he would not support President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, a stance the governor attributes to his opposition to a trend towards a one-party state.
“Almost immediately, political hostilities were activated,” Olanrewaju said, referencing recent attempts to install a rival PDP caretaker committee in Oyo State by allies of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The aide concluded by asserting that the governor’s mandate is rooted in performance and the trust of Oyo people, vowing that “half-truths and outright falsehoods” would collapse under the weight of facts.
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