Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has accused Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, of diverting a N50 billion federal government intervention fund allegedly released to the state following the January 2024 explosion in Ibadan.
Fayose, in a statement issued on Saturday, said he had earlier disclosed on a national television programme that Oyo State received N50 billion from the Federal Government as intervention support after the deadly explosion. He said Governor Makinde subsequently challenged him to provide evidence of the claim.
According to Fayose, documents now in his possession confirm that the fund was released, contrary to Makinde’s denial. He alleged that only N4.5 billion was paid to victims of the explosion, while the balance was diverted to other purposes.
“Only N4.5 billion was released to victims of the Ibadan explosion. The rest of the fund, along with other intervention funds, was diverted, largely to fund Governor Makinde’s presidential ambition,” Fayose claimed.
The former governor linked the alleged diversion to the lingering crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing Makinde of attacking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration to advance personal political interests.
Fayose said he was compelled to make the documents public despite his usual reluctance to disclose official government records, insisting that Nigerians deserve to know the truth.
“Even though it is not in my character to go public with official government documents, I had to do this so Nigerians will know who is telling the truth and who has not been sincere with the people of Oyo State,” he said.
He further argued that since Governor Makinde had chosen to disclose details of private meetings with President Tinubu on national television, it was only right for all facts surrounding federal interventions to be fully revealed.
Fayose challenged Makinde to seek legal redress, insisting he could substantiate his claims in court.
“I challenge Governor Seyi Makinde to sue me on this. There are proofs of other intervention funds received from Tinubu’s administration by the Oyo State Government which were never disclosed to the people,” he stated.
He also alleged discrepancies between Oyo State’s actual Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) figures and those publicly claimed by the governor, adding that further revelations may follow.
Signing off the statement, Fayose said, “My name is still Ayo Fayose. I don’t say what I can’t prove.”
Fayose served as Governor of Ekiti State between 2003 and 2006, and again from 2014 to 2018.
