Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has intensified criticism of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde by insisting that Makinde should return the N30 billion federal intervention fund released for victims of the January 16, 2024, Bodija explosion in Ibadan, and that the refund should include accumulated interest.
Gatekeepers News reports that the call, made in a statement issued by Fayose’s spokesperson Femi Philips on Thursday, underscores ongoing political contention over the handling of disaster relief funds.
Fayose’s demand follows Governor Makinde’s recent acknowledgment that the N30 billion released by the Federal Government as part of a larger N50 billion approved intervention package has remained untouched in a dedicated state account since November 2024.
The Oyo government has explained that the funds were left intact because the remaining N20 billion balance of the approved intervention has not yet been disbursed by federal agencies.
Fayose accused Makinde of failing to inform residents of Oyo State about the status of the relief funds until the issue became a political talking point.
He said that since the N30 billion has sat idle for nearly two years, it should be returned so that the Federal Government can directly channel support to the explosion victims through its established mechanisms.
The former Governor’s statement described the prolonged holding of the funds as inconsistent with transparency and accountability in public office. In addition to calling for the return of the principal amount, Fayose insisted that interest accrued on the funds should also be refunded.
He claimed that if the N30 billion had remained in a bank for about 18 months at an estimated 10 percent interest rate, it would have generated roughly N4.5 billion, bringing the total refund to no less than N34.5 billion.
The controversy has drawn reactions from political rivals, including All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, which has urged Makinde to account for how the alleged N50 billion relief fund was received and spent, asserting that residents have a right to know how federal support is utilized.
Meanwhile, Oyo State Government has maintained that it has prioritised the welfare of explosion victims, spending its own resources on reconstruction and compensation efforts while awaiting the release of the full federal intervention amount.
