Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has called on Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to return the N30 billion intervention fund released by the Federal Government for victims of the January 16, 2024 Bodija explosion in Ibadan, insisting that the money should be refunded with accrued interest since it was allegedly left unspent.
Fayose made the demand following Makinde’s admission that N30 billion of the N50 billion intervention fund approved by the Federal Government had been received but kept in a bank since 2024. According to Fayose, it was surprising that the Oyo State government did not inform residents about the receipt of the funds or the remaining N20 billion until he raised concerns publicly.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his spokesperson, Femi Philips, Fayose argued that since the governor claimed the funds were not utilised, the money should be returned to the Federal Government for proper deployment to the affected victims.
“If Governor Makinde has indeed kept the N30 billion in the bank since 2024, the Oyo State Government should return the money to the Federal Government so it can be used for the purpose for which it was released,” Fayose said. “The Federal Government has mechanisms to directly reach the victims, especially since their governor has chosen to politicise their welfare.”
The former governor further stated that the funds would have generated significant interest over time, estimating that N30 billion kept in a bank for 18 months could yield at least N4.5 billion at a 10 percent interest rate.
“On this basis, Governor Makinde should return no less than N34.5 billion to the Federal Government,” he added.
Fayose stressed that public office demands openness and accountability, noting that his decision to speak out was aimed at exposing what he described as hypocrisy in the handling of the intervention funds.
He maintained that the controversy could have been avoided if Makinde had been fully transparent about the outcome of his meeting with President Bola Tinubu, including the approval of the N50 billion intervention request for the explosion victims.
“You cannot selectively disclose aspects of a meeting that favour you while concealing those that should benefit others,” Fayose said. “As a Yoruba man, we will not allow the image and integrity of the President to be undermined due to unchecked presidential ambition.”
