The media adviser to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has strongly denied allegations that the governor secretly received and saved fifty billion naira from the Federal Government for a presidential bid.
Allegations Dismissed as Politically Motivated
Dr Sulaiman Olanrewaju, the Special Adviser on Media, on Sunday, December 28, 2025, described the claims made by former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, as "misleading and deliberately disingenuous." He stated that the narrative was fabricated for political reasons.
Olanrewaju provided a detailed clarification regarding the funds in question. He explained that the N50 billion figure often cited was part of a promised support package from the Federal Government following the devastating Bodija explosion in January 2024.
The True Disposition of the Funds
According to the governor's aide, only N30 billion of the promised sum was actually released to the state. He revealed that the remaining N20 billion was withheld due to demands for inducements, which Governor Makinde reportedly refused to pay.
"The issue is not about promises. It is about what was done with the funds that were released," Olanrewaju emphasised. He outlined how the N30 billion was utilised transparently:
- N4.5 billion was disbursed directly to victims of the explosion.
- The remainder was invested in critical recovery projects, including rebuilding efforts, road repairs, security upgrades, and plans for a memorial in the affected community.
Link to 2027 Political Stance
Dr Olanrewaju suggested that the resurgence of these allegations is a direct retaliation for Governor Makinde's recent political declaration. The governor had stated that he would not support President Bola Tinubu's re-election bid in 2027, despite having supported him in the 2023 presidential election.
"These actions are not driven by principle. They are driven by desperation," the media adviser said, also condemning what he described as recent attempts to manipulate the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) structures in Oyo State.
He called on Nigerians to assess Governor Makinde based on the factual performance of his administration and not on what he termed "half-truths and political mischief." Olanrewaju concluded with a firm statement from the governor's standpoint: "Governor Makinde has made his position clear: he will not be complicit in coercion or intimidation. And if he must stand alone, he will stand, but he is not alone."
