A fresh controversy has erupted over claims that the Oyo State Government received ₦50 billion from the Federal Government as intervention funds following the January 2024 Bodija, Ibadan explosion, with former Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, and a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) group in Oyo State exchanging sharp words.
A PDP group, Oyo PDP-Visionaries, on Sunday described Fayose as “a disgrace to public service,” accusing him of misleading the public by confusing a request for funds with an approval.
In a statement signed by its Coordinator, Qudus Olayide, the group faulted Fayose for publishing a letter from the Federal Ministry of Finance which, according to them, merely showed that Oyo State requested ₦50 billion for the reconstruction of the Dejo Oyelese/Adeyi Avenue axis affected by the explosion.
The group said Fayose failed to produce any document showing that the amount was actually approved or released.
“It is disturbing that a former governor would mislead the public by presenting a request as evidence of approval,” the statement said, challenging Fayose to publish proof of actual disbursement.
The group further accused Fayose of deliberately spreading falsehood to discredit Governor Seyi Makinde, describing the former Ekiti governor’s claims as “demeaning, shameful and intellectually dishonest.”
The Oyo PDP-Visionaries also defended Makinde, describing him as a transparent and people-centred leader, and warned Fayose against what they termed “lowlife, chop-chop politics.”
However, Fayose has doubled down on his claim.
In a statement released on December 28, Fayose insisted that Oyo State received ₦50 billion as federal intervention following the explosion. He alleged that while only ₦4.5 billion was released to victims, the balance was diverted to fund Governor Makinde’s alleged presidential ambition.
Fayose said he released official documents to back up his claim after the governor challenged him to provide evidence, adding that he was ready to defend his position in court.
“I don’t say what I can’t prove,” Fayose declared, daring Governor Makinde to sue him.
Meanwhile, a separate press statement on public accountability, signed by Lanre Ogundipe, former President of the Nigeria and African Union of Journalists, called for full disclosure rather than political exchanges.
The statement said records from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation indicate that Oyo State was among states considered for intervention funds running into tens of billions of naira, adding that the governor’s disclosure of only ₦4.5 billion raises legitimate questions.
It outlined four key areas requiring clarification:
the total amount requested,
the amount approved,
the sum actually received, and
any outstanding or undisbursed balance, backed by verifiable documents.
The statement urged Governor Makinde to publish a detailed, itemised reconciliation of federal intervention funds to strengthen public confidence.
“In public service, honour is demonstrated through transparency, not assertion,” it said.
As of the time of filing this report, the Oyo State Government had not released a fresh statement responding to the latest claims.
