Former Ekiti governor Ayo Fayose alleges misuse of the Ibadan explosion fund, releasing documents he claims show ₦50bn federal intervention to Oyo State.
Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has reignited political debate in the South-West following the release of documents he claims prove that the Oyo State Government received ₦50 billion from the Federal Government as intervention support after the January 2024 Ibadan explosion.
The disclosure has intensified scrutiny around the handling of the Ibadan explosion fund and sparked renewed calls for transparency in public finance management.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Fayose said the documents were released in response to a public challenge from Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who had asked him to substantiate claims previously made on national television.
Attached to Fayose’s statement was a memo he said originated from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, which he described as evidence of the special intervention fund approved for Oyo State.
According to Fayose, the controversy began when he alleged that the Federal Government approved ₦50 billion as emergency assistance following the devastating blast that rocked parts of Ibadan in January 2024, leaving casualties, destroyed properties, and displacing several residents.
He maintained that the funds were meant to provide relief for victims, rebuild affected communities, and support the state’s emergency response efforts.
Fayose claimed that Governor Makinde publicly demanded proof after the allegation gained widespread attention.
“I made a statement on national television that Oyo State received ₦50bn as intervention for the Ibadan explosion fund. The governor asked for evidence, and I have now provided that evidence,” he said.
Beyond the release of documents, the former governor accused the Oyo State Government of disbursing only ₦4.5 billion to victims of the explosion.
He alleged that the remaining funds were diverted for purposes unrelated to disaster recovery, including what he described as personal political ambitions.
Fayose linked the alleged diversion to internal tensions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the strained relationship between Governor Makinde and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He further argued that concerns surrounding the Ibadan explosion fund go beyond political rivalry, describing the issue as one of public accountability.
Fayose said he was reluctant to make official government documents public but felt compelled to do so in the interest of Nigerians.
According to him, transparency became unavoidable after what he described as selective disclosures by Governor Makinde regarding private discussions with President Tinubu.
“It is not my usual practice to release government documents to the public,” Fayose said.
“However, when a public official challenges the truth, and when the people deserve clarity, transparency becomes necessary.”
The former Ekiti governor also challenged Makinde to seek legal action if he believed the allegations were false.
Fayose insisted he was prepared to defend his claims in court, stating that he possessed additional documents related to federal intervention funds allegedly received by Oyo State but not disclosed to the public.
“I challenge Governor Makinde to sue me. There are records of other Federal Government interventions received by Oyo State under this administration that have not been openly communicated to the people,” Fayose stated.
Expanding the scope of his claims, Fayose alleged discrepancies in Oyo State’s publicly stated Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
He suggested that official figures released by the Makinde administration do not accurately reflect the state’s actual revenue performance.
While he declined to release those documents immediately, Fayose said they would be made public at a later date if necessary.
“There are documentary evidences of the true financial position of Oyo State, including its real IGR, which contradicts official claims,” he said.
“For now, we are holding back, but the facts are there.”
As of the time of filing this report, the Oyo State Government had not issued a detailed response to the documents released by Fayose.
Political analysts note that the allegations could deepen political tensions within the PDP while also raising broader questions about the management of emergency funds across states.
The Ibadan explosion, one of the most tragic incidents in the state in recent years, had drawn national attention and prompted assurances from both federal and state authorities that victims would be adequately compensated.
Advocacy groups have repeatedly called for transparent reporting on how relief funds are accessed and spent, especially in disaster-related interventions.
