Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has asked Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to refund the ₦30 billion Federal Government intervention fund released after the January 16, 2024 Bodija explosion in Ibadan – along with accrued interest – since Makinde has publicly said the money remains untouched in a bank account.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his spokesperson, Femi Philips, Fayose said it was “funny” that Oyo residents were not informed about the ₦30 billion until Makinde recently admitted receiving it, after Fayose had earlier alleged that ₦50 billion was approved as intervention support.
“Since Governor Makinde has now said that he kept the ₦30 billion he admitted to have received in a bank since 2024, the Oyo State Government should return the money to the Federal Government so it can be used for the people for which the money was meant,” Fayose said.
He argued that Abuja has mechanisms to reach explosion victims directly “since their Governor has chosen to play politics with their welfare.”
Fayose further claimed that if the ₦30 billion has truly been sitting in an interest-bearing account for 18 months, it would have generated “at least ₦4.5 billion at 10 percent interest,” insisting that Makinde should refund “not less than ₦34.5 billion” in total.
The former governor framed his intervention as a matter of transparency and accountability in public office, saying his decision to go public was aimed at exposing what he called the “hypocrisy” of Makinde.
He accused the Oyo governor of selectively disclosing details of his engagements with President Bola Tinubu.
“If he hadn’t gone on national television to disclose what happened in a meeting with the President, and concealed the fact that he requested for ₦50 billion intervention fund for the explosion victims from the President, and the request was granted, there wouldn’t have been any reason to talk,” Fayose said.
“But you can’t tell the public what favours you about a meeting and keep the ones that should favour the other parties,” he added, accusing Makinde of trying to damage the President’s image “because of inordinate presidential ambition.”
Makinde has previously insisted that the explosion-related funds were secured and managed in line with due process, and has argued that spending must follow proper verification and documentation of affected persons and properties. However, Fayose’s latest comments are likely to intensify public pressure on the Oyo State Government to publish a full breakdown of all funds received and how they have been utilised—or why they have not been spent—nearly two years after the Bodija disaster.
