- Makinde did not secretly receive or save ₦50bn.
- Only ₦30bn was released after the Bodija explosion.
- Funds were used openly for victims and rebuilding.
- Aide links allegation to 2027 political tensions.
The ₦50 billion claim against Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde is false and politically motivated, his media aide has said, dismissing allegations that the governor secretly received and saved federal funds to pursue a presidential ambition.
The Special Adviser on Media to Oyo State Governor, Dr Sulaiman Olanrewaju, has faulted former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose over claims that Governor Seyi Makinde received ₦50 billion from the Federal Government and diverted it for political purposes.
ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!
Speaking on Sunday, Olanrewaju described the allegation as misleading and deliberately calculated to deceive the public, insisting that the facts surrounding the funds are being twisted for political reasons.
According to him, the ₦50 billion often mentioned by critics was not cash handed to the Oyo State Government, but a support package promised by the Federal Government after the January 2024 Bodija explosion in Ibadan.
He explained that only ₦30 billion was eventually released, while the remaining ₦20 billion was withheld after demands were allegedly made for inducements, demands Governor Makinde refused to entertain.
READ ALSO: Atiku Calls for Fresh Passage of Controversial Tax Bills
“The issue is not about promises. It is about what was actually released and how it was used,” Olanrewaju said.
He stated that the ₦30 billion was handled transparently, with ₦4.5 billion paid directly to victims, while the balance was spent on rebuilding damaged structures, repairing roads, improving security, and planning a memorial for the community affected by the blast.
Olanrewaju suggested that the renewed attacks on Governor Makinde are politically driven, coming shortly after the governor publicly stated that he would not support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, despite backing him in 2023.
“These actions are not driven by principle. They are driven by desperation,” he said.
The media aide also condemned what he described as attempts to manipulate the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) structures in Oyo State, warning that political rivalry should not be built on falsehood.
“Truth must not become a casualty of political games. Governor Makinde has made his position clear, he will not submit to coercion or intimidation,” Olanrewaju added.
He urged Nigerians to judge the governor by verifiable facts and performance, not what he called half-truths and political mischief.
