Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has alleged that Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, received ₦50 billion from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, funds which he claimed never entered the official coffers of Oyo State.
Fayose made the allegation on Friday during an interview on TVC, where he claimed that the money was given to Governor Makinde as federal support following the January 2024 Ibadan explosion. He accused the Oyo State governor of deliberately omitting this information while narrating details of his meeting with President Tinubu.
“The President of Nigeria intended to give you a ministerial slot, but circumstances didn’t allow it. Yet, you did not tell Nigerians that you received ₦50 billion from him in support of the Ibadan explosion. The President never disclosed that,” Fayose alleged.
He further claimed that the ₦50 billion was handed directly to Makinde during his meeting with the President and that the governor failed to mention it during his recent press briefing.
“The ₦50 billion never entered Oyo State’s coffers. You only highlighted the part where you said the President asked you to help organise the APC in Oyo State, which you declined. You didn’t tell Nigerians what the President did for you or the people of your state,” Fayose added.
During the same press briefing referenced by Fayose, Governor Makinde publicly stated that he would not support President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Findings by EGALITARIAN VOICE
After critically reviewing the information currently available, EGALITARIAN VOICE makes the following findings:
The claim that Governor Seyi Makinde received ₦50 billion from President Tinubu remains an UNVERIFIED ALLEGATION made solely by former Governor Ayo Fayose.
Governor Makinde has not confirmed receiving any such direct financial support from President Tinubu or the Federal Government outside of officially documented allocations or program-based reimbursements.
The Allegation
Ayo Fayose alleged that the ₦50 billion was given specifically in relation to the Ibadan explosion of January 2024 and was not disclosed to the public.
Makinde’s Position on Federal Funds
While Governor Makinde has not directly responded to the specific ₦50 billion allegation, he has previously publicly countered claims regarding federal funds.
In a similar allegation in August 2024, Makinde refuted a claim by President Tinubu that states received ₦570 billion as hardship funds, explaining that the funds were World Bank reimbursements under the NG-CARES programme, not grants from the Federal Government.
Makinde explained:
“The funds were part of the World Bank-assisted NG-CARES project — a COVID-19 Action Recovery Economic Stimulus. States spent their own money first and were later reimbursed after verification. The Federal Government did not give any state money; it only served as a conduit.”
He further clarified that the funds were loans, not grants, and that the programme predated the current federal administration.
According to the governor, Oyo State received:
- ₦5.98 billion in the first tranche
- ₦822 million in the second tranche
Verdict
As of now, no official evidence or confirmation has been presented by:
The Oyo State Government, or The Federal Government to substantiate Fayose’s claim that ₦50 billion was given directly to Governor Makinde.
The allegation remains political in nature and unproven, similar to previous claims concerning federal disbursements to states that were later clarified or debunked.
EGALITARIAN VOICE will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as more verified information becomes available.
