Politics
Ibadan Explosion: Return Tinubu’s ₦30 Billion – Fayose Fires Makinde
Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has called on Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to return the ₦30 billion intervention fund released by the Federal Government for victims of the January 16, 2024 Bodija explosion in Ibadan.
Daily voice reports that Fayose said the demand became necessary following Makinde’s admission that the fund had not been spent since it was received.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his spokesperson, Femi Philips, Fayose described it as “funny” that the Oyo State governor did not disclose the receipt of the ₦30 billion and an additional ₦20 billion balance to the people of the state until controversy arose over the total ₦50 billion intervention fund.
He said, “Since Governor Makinde has now said that he kept the ₦30 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.
“After all, the Federal Government has mechanisms to reach victims of the explosion since their governor has chosen to play politics with their welfare.”
The former governor further argued that the money would have accrued substantial interest while sitting in the bank.
“₦30 billion in a bank for 18 months would have generated at least ₦4.5 billion at 10 per cent interest,” Fayose said.
“Therefore, Governor Makinde must return not less than ₦34.5 billion to the Federal Government.”
Fayose, who stressed that public office demands transparency and accountability, said he raised the issue to expose what he described as hypocrisy on the part of the Oyo State governor.
He claimed that Makinde selectively disclosed details of his meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu while withholding information about the intervention fund meant for the explosion victims.
“If he hadn’t gone on national television to disclose what favoured him about a meeting with the President, and concealed the fact that he requested ₦50 billion intervention fund for the explosion victims and that the request was granted, there wouldn’t have been any reason to talk,” Fayose said.
Fayose also warned Makinde against politicising the issue and dragging the President’s image into what he called “inordinate presidential ambition.”
“But you can’t tell the public what favours you about a meeting and keep the ones that should favour other parties. As a Yoruba man, we will not allow you to destroy the President’s name and image because of inordinate presidential ambition,” he added.
Nollywood actor and politician Kenneth Okonkwo has withdrawn his support for the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, citing the continued marginalisation of the South-East geopolitical zone.
Okonkwo’s decision followed the official announcement by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, confirming former Rivers State Governor and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, from the South-South, as Atiku’s vice-presidential running mate for the 2027 general election.
Reacting to the development, Okonkwo stated that any arrangement excluding the South-East from the top two executive positions in 2027 perpetuates unpardonable injustice against his people.
He emphasized that the region has not produced a President or Vice President since 1999 and noted that the ADC’s founder, Ralphs Nwosu, did not sacrifice leadership of the party in 2025 to enable the marginalisation of his own zone.
Okonkwo maintained that he would not campaign for any presidential ticket that fails to include a person of South-East origin as President or Vice President in 2027.
Okonkwo shared his decision in a statement released on his official X handle:
I heard from the social media that ADC has picked its vice presidential candidate from the South-South. If this is true, it is unfortunate, as this will continue the crude marginalisation of the South-East.
This Geo-Political Zone has neither produced a President or Vice President since 1999. To deny the South-East the opportunity to produce the President or Vice President in ADC in 2027 will amount to perpetuating the marginalisation.
The ADC was founded by Ralphs Nwosu from the South-East in 2005. He made the sacrifice to give up the party in 2025 for the coalition to usher in a better Nigeria. He couldn’t have made that sacrifice to marginalise his own people.
I did not join the coalition to assist in marginalisation of my own people further. I am of the opinion that if we made a sacrifice to give up the National Chairman and the President, it will amount to unpardonable injustice to deny us the Vice President in 2027.
I joined politics to fight for a better Nigeria where no region, Geo-Political Zone, or person will be marginalised.
The only favour I asked Atiku Abubakar, who openly declared that he is the pathway to the presidency of the South-East, is to show it by choosing someone from the South-East to be his Vice.
If it is confirmed that he has chosen a candidate from the South-South, I wish him well. I am not favourably disposed to campaigning for any presidential ticket that does not have a person of South-East origin as President or Vice in 2027.
Nollywood actor and politician Kenneth Okonkwo has withdrawn his support for the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, citing the continued marginalization of the South-East geopolitical zone.
Okonkwo’s decision followed the official announcement by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, confirming former Rivers State Governor and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, from the South-South, as Atiku’s vice-presidential running mate for the 2027 general election.
Reacting to the development, Okonkwo stated that any arrangement excluding the South-East from the top two executive positions in 2027 perpetuates unpardonable injustice against his people.
He emphasized that the region has not produced a President or Vice President since 1999 and noted that the ADC’s founder, Ralphs Nwosu, did not sacrifice leadership of the party in 2025 to enable the marginalisation of his own zone.
Okonkwo maintained that he would not campaign for any presidential ticket that fails to include a person of South-East origin as President or Vice President in 2027.
Okonkwo shared his decision in a statement released on his official X handle:
I heard from the social media that ADC has picked its vice presidential candidate from the South-South. If this is true, it is unfortunate, as this will continue the crude marginalisation of the South-East.
This Geo-Political Zone has neither produced a President or Vice President since 1999. To deny the South-East the opportunity to produce the President or Vice President in ADC in 2027 will amount to perpetuating the marginalisation.
The ADC was founded by Ralphs Nwosu from the South-East in 2005. He made the sacrifice to give up the party in 2025 for the coalition to usher in a better Nigeria. He couldn’t have made that sacrifice to marginalise his own people.
I did not join the coalition to assist in marginalisation of my own people further. I am of the opinion that if we made a sacrifice to give up the National Chairman and the President, it will amount to unpardonable injustice to deny us the Vice President in 2027.
I joined politics to fight for a better Nigeria where no region, Geo-Political Zone, or person will be marginalised.
The only favour I asked Atiku Abubakar, who openly declared that he is the pathway to the presidency of the South-East, is to show it by choosing someone from the South-East to be his Vice.
If it is confirmed that he has chosen a candidate from the South-South, I wish him well. I am not favourably disposed to campaigning for any presidential ticket that does not have a person of South-East origin as President or Vice in 2027.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is coasting to victory in the chairmanship and councillorship elections in Adamawa conducted on Saturday.
The Adamawa State Independent Electoral Commission (ADSIEC) will announce the official results later today.
According to Daily Trust, Emmanuel Abba, commissioner of logistics and field operations of the commission, told journalists on Sunday that collation was ongoing.
Abba said election results of 20 LGAs out of 21 have been collated, adding that Numan LGA is pending.
The commissioner said ADSIEC will officially announce the results of the 21 LGAs sooner.
He implored residents to be patient to enable completion of the entire electoral process.
According to Daily Trust, PDP has taken an early lead from results of the 20 local government areas announced at ward and LGA levels thus far.
FINTIRI ABSENT DURING LGA POLL
The Adamawa LGA election recorded low voter turnout as many polling units were without voters.
According to Punch, Ahmadu Fintiri, governor of the state, was not in Adamawa during the election.
Leader Leneke, Adamawa commissioner of information, told the publication that the All Progressives Congress (APC) did not campaign as vigorously as the PDP.
Leneke said people in the rural areas believe that LGA elections are for politicians in the ruling party.
“The PDP governorship candidate and the chairmanship candidates were going out every day for campaigns, but the ruling APC was not doing the same. So, if the PDP wins the election today, it is due to its hard work,” he said.
“There is voter apathy in today’s election because people in rural areas believe that local government elections are meant for the ruling party in government, so they see no reason to come out and vote.”
In February, Fintiri formally joined the APC from the PDP.
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