Bring You Proof Or Stop Lying — Makinde Fires Back At Fayose Over N50bn Claim

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has firmly refuted allegations that he received ₦50 billion from President Bola Tinubu to manage the aftermath of the January 2024 Ibadan explosion.

It could be recalled that the governor has dared former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, to openly present evidence to support the allegation or desist from spreading what he described as falsehoods.

The claim resurfaced after Fayose made the allegation during a televised interview, asserting that the funds were released by the Presidency after the tragic Ibadan explosion but were not paid into the official accounts of the Oyo State Government.

Fayose further alleged that the process lacked transparency.

The January 2024 explosion in Ibadan resulted in the deaths of five people, left at least 77 others injured, and destroyed about 55 houses.

After the incident, Governor Makinde visited President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where he submitted a comprehensive report on the explosion and requested federal assistance for recovery and relief efforts.

The controversy intensified following similar claims by Fayose’s former aide, Lere Olayinka, who alleged on social media that although N50 billion was reportedly received, only N4.5 billion was disbursed to victims of the explosion.

Reacting to the allegations, Makinde’s Chief Press Secretary, Sulaimon Olarenwaju, dismissed the claims as baseless and misleading.

He described the allegations as reckless and maintained that no such amount was ever received by the Oyo State Government from the Federal Government.

Olarenwaju challenged Fayose and others making the claims to provide verifiable evidence to substantiate their allegations, stressing that public assertions without proof amount to deliberate misinformation.

The Oyo State Government stated that all funds and interventions connected to the Ibadan explosion were managed transparently, with proper documentation of disbursements to victims and affected communities.

The government added that relief materials, compensation, and reconstruction initiatives followed due process and were carried out in the best interest of those affected by the disaster.

It also reaffirmed its commitment to accountability, noting that the administration remains open to scrutiny by relevant authorities and the general public.