Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has called on Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to return the N30 billion intervention fund released by the Federal Government for victims of the January 16, 2024, Bodija explosion in Ibadan, saying the money has remained untouched.
Fayose made the call in a statement issued on Thursday by his spokesperson, Femi Philips, accusing Makinde of withholding the fund and failing to inform Oyo residents of its existence.
The former governor described it as “funny” that Makinde only disclosed the N30 billion he received and the N20 billion balance after publicly announcing the N50 billion intervention fund.
“Since Governor Makinde has now said that he kept the N30 billion he admitted to have received in a bank since 2024, Oyo State Government should return the money to the Federal Government so it can be used for the people for which the money was meant,” Fayose said.
He added that the funds, if kept in a bank for 18 months, would have accrued at least N4.5 billion at 10 percent interest, insisting that Makinde must return not less than N34.5 billion to the federal coffers.
Fayose also emphasised that public office demands transparency and accountability, noting that he made the intervention fund public to expose what he described as “the hypocrisy” of the Oyo State Governor.
He further accused Makinde of selectively disclosing information from his meeting with the President, saying, “You can’t tell the public what favours you received and conceal those that should benefit others. As a Yoruba man, we will not allow you to destroy the President’s name and image because of inordinate presidential ambition.”