Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has urged Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to return the ₦30 billion federal intervention fund released for victims of the January 16, 2024 Bodija explosion in Ibadan.
Fayose made the call after Governor Makinde reportedly admitted that the fund has remained unused since it was received.
In a statement released on Thursday through his spokesperson, Femi Philips, Fayose described it as surprising that the Oyo State government failed to inform residents about the receipt of the ₦30 billion—along with an additional ₦20 billion balance—until public controversy erupted over the total ₦50 billion intervention package.
According to Fayose, since the governor has acknowledged that the ₦30 billion has been kept in a bank since 2024, the money should be returned to the Federal Government for proper utilisation.
“Since Governor Makinde has confirmed that the ₦30 billion received has been sitting in a bank since 2024, the Oyo State Government should return the fund to the Federal Government so it can be deployed for the benefit of the victims for whom it was intended,” Fayose said.
He added that the Federal Government has the capacity to directly reach and support the affected victims, accusing the Oyo State government of politicising their welfare.
Fayose further argued that the funds would have accrued significant interest while left idle.
“₦30 billion kept in a bank for about 18 months would have generated at least ₦4.5 billion at a 10 per cent interest rate. Governor Makinde should therefore return no less than ₦34.5 billion to the Federal Government,” he stated.
Emphasising the need for transparency and accountability in public office, Fayose said his intervention was aimed at exposing what he described as hypocrisy on the part of the Oyo State governor.
He accused Makinde of selectively revealing details from his meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while withholding information regarding the intervention funds requested and approved for the explosion victims.
“If Governor Makinde had not gone on national television to highlight only the aspects of his meeting with the President that favoured him, while concealing the fact that he requested and received a ₦50 billion intervention fund for the victims, there would have been no need for this discussion,” Fayose said.
The former governor also warned Makinde against politicising the matter and dragging the President’s image into what he described as “inordinate presidential ambition.”
“You cannot disclose only what suits you and hide what should benefit others. As a Yoruba man, we will not allow you to damage the President’s image because of personal political ambition,” Fayose added.