By RismadarVoice Media
December 27, 2027
The Chief Press Secretary to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, Mr Sulaimon Olarenwaju, has dismissed claims by former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu provided N50 billion in support to Oyo State – following the January 2024 Ibadan explosion.
Olarenwaju challenged Fayose to provide evidence to substantiate the allegation, describing it as baseless.
“He who makes an allegation must provide evidence. Let him produce proof for what he claims. If neither the President nor the Federal Government has said anything of sort, who is Fayose to make such claims? There was no N50 billion donation,” he said.
The CPS spoke during a telephone interview with newsmen on Saturday afternoon.
The explosion, which occurred in January 2024 at Adeyi Avenue, Ibadan, claimed five lives, injured 77 persons, destroyed about 55 houses.
Governor Makinde had visited the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on January 22 to brief President Tinubu, submit a report on the incident.
Olarenwaju also questioned Fayose’s credibility, insisting that the former governor’s claims should not be taken seriously without proof.
“Such a person speaks ordinarily, and we should not pay attention. However, since he has made an allegation, let him substantiate it,” he added.
Fayose had made the allegation on Friday during an appearance on TVC, accusing Makinde of failing to disclose what he described as N50 billion presidential support tied to his meeting with Tinubu.
According to Fayose, the funds were not paid directly into Oyo State’s treasury but were allegedly connected to Makinde’s engagement with the President.
“You did not tell Nigerians that you got N50 billion in support of the explosion in Ibadan. The money did not come into the coffers of Oyo State; it came through your interface with the President,” Fayose claimed.
He further alleged that Makinde selectively disclosed aspects of his discussions with Tinubu, including claims that he declined a request to help organize the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State.
Reacting to whether there was any truth to the allegation, Olarenwaju maintained that there was no substance to Fayose’s claims.
“Did the President say so? Did the Federal Government issue any statement to that effect? If the answer is no, then there is no basis for the claim,” he said.
Fayose’s remarks comes amid internal divisions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has split into two major factions—the Nyesom Wike-led bloc, with which Fayose aligns, and the Kabiru Turaki-led faction, to which Makinde belongs.
Reaffirming his political stance, Fayose declared his loyalty to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
“I’m a Wike person. Anywhere Wike is, that is where I am. I will never join the APC,” Fayose said.
