Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has firmly denied claims that he received ₦50 billion from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to manage the aftermath of the January 2024 Ibadan explosion, describing the allegation as false and misleading.
The governor has challenged former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose to present verifiable evidence to support the claim or desist from repeating what he termed baseless assertions.
Allegation Resurfaces
The controversy resurfaced after Fayose made the allegation during a televised interview, claiming that funds were allegedly released by the Presidency following the Ibadan explosion but were not paid into official Oyo State Government accounts. Fayose further suggested that the process lacked transparency.
The January 2024 explosion in Ibadan reportedly claimed five lives, injured at least 77 people, and destroyed about 55 houses, prompting calls for urgent relief and reconstruction.
Makinde’s Engagement With Presidency
Following the incident, Governor Makinde visited President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he submitted a detailed report on the explosion and requested federal assistance for recovery and relief efforts.
The issue intensified after Fayose’s former aide, Lere Olayinka, also alleged on social media that although ₦50 billion was reportedly received, only ₦4.5 billion was disbursed to victims—an allegation the state government disputes.
State Government Reacts
Responding on behalf of the governor, Oyo State Chief Press Secretary, Sulaimon Olarenwaju, dismissed the claims as reckless and unfounded, stating that no such amount was received by the Oyo State Government from the Federal Government.
Olarenwaju challenged Fayose and other proponents of the claim to provide concrete evidence, stressing that public allegations without proof amount to deliberate misinformation.
Transparency Assurance
The Oyo State Government maintained that all interventions related to the Ibadan explosion were handled transparently, with proper documentation of relief materials, compensation, and reconstruction efforts.
It reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to accountability, noting that it remains open to scrutiny by relevant authorities and the public regarding all actions taken in response to the disaster.
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