Makinde’s Aide Rejects Fayose’s ₦50 Billion Donation Allegation, Dares Him to Provide Proof
The Oyo State Government has dismissed allegations by former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu donated ₦50 billion to Governor Seyi Makinde in the aftermath of the January 2024 explosion in Ibadan. The state government described the claim as unfounded and challenged Fayose to present verifiable evidence to support his assertion.
The allegation stems from comments Fayose made during a television appearance, where he accused Governor Makinde of failing to disclose what he described as a ₦50 billion support package allegedly linked to Makinde’s visit to President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock. According to Fayose, the funds were not paid directly into Oyo State’s official accounts but were allegedly tied to private engagements between the governor and the president.
Reacting to the claim, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Sulaimon Olarenwaju, dismissed Fayose’s remarks during a phone interview on Saturday, insisting that no such donation was ever made. Olarenwaju stressed that allegations of this magnitude must be backed by concrete proof, noting that neither the presidency nor any federal institution had announced or acknowledged such a transaction.
“He who makes an allegation must provide evidence,” Olarenwaju said. “If the President did not say so, and the federal government did not issue any statement confirming it, who exactly is Fayose to make such claims? There was no ₦50 billion donation to Oyo State or to the governor.”
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The controversy is linked to the tragic explosion that occurred in January 2024 at Adeyi Avenue in Ibadan, Oyo State. The incident claimed five lives, injured at least 77 persons, and damaged over 50 houses. Governor Makinde later visited President Tinubu on January 22, 2024, to present a formal report of the incident and discuss federal intervention for victims and reconstruction efforts.
Fayose, however, alleged that the meeting went beyond official discussions and involved undisclosed financial support. He further accused Makinde of selectively revealing details of his interactions with the president while withholding information about the alleged ₦50 billion assistance.
In response, Olarenwaju dismissed the former governor’s credibility, describing the claim as politically motivated and lacking substance. He maintained that if such a donation existed, it would have followed established financial procedures and been publicly documented.
The dispute is unfolding against the backdrop of internal divisions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Fayose has openly aligned himself with the faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, while Governor Makinde is associated with the opposing faction led by former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki.
Fayose has also reiterated his loyalty to Wike, declaring publicly that he would follow the former Rivers State governor wherever he goes politically, even as he criticised Makinde for publicly disclosing private conversations with President Tinubu.
Governor Makinde, on his part, has previously stated that he would not support President Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election and had turned down any request to help organise the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State. These disclosures appear to have further deepened tensions within the PDP and intensified political exchanges between rival camps.
As of now, no official confirmation has emerged from the presidency or any federal agency regarding the alleged ₦50 billion donation. The Oyo State Government insists the claim remains a political allegation unsupported by facts, urging the public to distinguish between political rivalry and verifiable governance issues.