Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration has levelled a grave allegation against the Federal Government, claiming that a promised ₦50 billion support package for the January 2024 Ibadan explosion victims was partially withheld after the Governor refused demands for illicit “inducements.”
The claim was made in a detailed rebuttal by Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, titled “Makinde: Truth Is Not a Casualty of Political Desperation.” The article serves as a direct response to recent allegations from political opponents, including former Governor Ayodele Fayose, who accused Makinde of secretly receiving and hoarding the federal fund.
From Promise to Partial Release
Dr. Olanrewaju clarified that President Bola Tinubu did not visit Oyo State after the tragic Bodija explosion, which killed lives and destroyed property. Instead, Governor Makinde travelled to Abuja to submit a report and formally request support, after which the Federal Government promised a ₦50 billion package.
“A promise, however, is not a release,” Olanrewaju stated, introducing a critical distinction at the heart of the controversy.
He revealed that when it was time for disbursement, only ₦30 billion was released. Crucially, he alleged that this “partial release was accompanied by demands for inducements tied to the disbursement of the balance.”
“Governor Makinde refused. As a result, the remaining ₦20 billion was withheld,” the aide wrote, framing the Governor’s decision as a stand against corruption.
Accounting for the Received Funds
The article defended the Governor’s transparency regarding the funds that were received. It stated that the ₦30 billion was managed by a public committee, with a portion given as direct support to victims and the remainder used for reconstruction, road repairs, and a planned memorial at the blast site.
The widely reported ₦4.5 billion in direct aid, Olanrewaju explained, constituted 15% of the total received sum, given directly to landlords and tenants affected by the disaster.
A Political Catalyst: The 2027 Declaration
Dr. Olanrewaju directly linked the resurgence of the financial allegation to recent political developments. He pointed to Governor Makinde’s recent declaration that he would not support President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 as the trigger for “activated political hostilities.”
“This declaration marked a turning point,” he wrote, citing the recent move by allies of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to inaugurate a rival PDP caretaker committee in Oyo State as part of “retaliatory manoeuvring.”
The aide concluded that the narrative was being distorted by political desperation, asserting that Governor Makinde’s mandate is “rooted in performance, credibility, and the trust of the people.”
“Nigeria stands at a crossroads,” Olanrewaju warned. “This is about whether we allow fear, coercion, and political intimidation to dismantle our democracy.”