APC Demands Accountability Over Alleged N50bn Bodija Explosion Relief Fund

The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has challenged Governor Seyi Makinde to publicly account for an alleged ₦50 billion relief fund reportedly disbursed by the Federal Government following the deadly January 18, 2024 explosion in Ibadan.

The party said residents of the state deserve clarity on how the purported funds were utilised, especially in light of growing controversies surrounding the relief process for victims of the tragic incident.

Background to the Bodija Explosion

On January 18, 2024, a massive explosion rocked Aderinola Street in the Bodija area of Ibadan, killing at least five persons and destroying over 50 buildings. Authorities later attributed the disaster to illegal miners who allegedly stored explosive devices in a residential building.

In the aftermath, Governor Seyi Makinde presented a report on the incident to President Bola Tinubu. Months later, in May, the Oyo State Government approved ₦4.5 billion as financial support for victims and survivors of the explosion.

However, the issue took a new turn following claims by former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, that the Federal Government had released as much as ₦50 billion to the Oyo State Government as intervention funds for the reconstruction of the affected area.

APC Questions Use of Alleged Funds

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Oyo APC Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, insisted that the people of the state deserve a transparent account of how the alleged funds were handled.

“On the issue of the Ibadan explosion, Gov. Makinde claimed to have spent ₦4.5 billion on the victims even without accountability or proper records to show who got what,” Sadare said.

“Now that his close friend and fellow party man has disclosed that a whopping ₦50 billion was actually paid into the coffers of the Oyo State Government as a relief fund by the Federal Government, Gov. Makinde should know that a flippant reaction by his media aide cannot be enough as the whole world needs to know what he did with the money.”

Akahi News gathered that Fayose had earlier alleged during a television interview that the funds did not even pass through the state government’s official accounts. He later released what he claimed was a document from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, indicating that ₦50 billion was requested as “intervention funding support for the reconstruction of Old Bodija and environs after the Bodija explosion.”

The document was shared publicly by Lere Olayinka, a media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Government Pushback and Political Tensions

Responding to the allegation, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, dismissed Fayose’s claims as baseless and challenged him to present concrete evidence to support his assertions.

However, the APC maintained that the explanation offered by the governor’s camp was insufficient, insisting that transparency and public accountability were non-negotiable given the scale of the tragedy and the funds allegedly involved.

Beyond the financial controversy, Sadare also took a swipe at Governor Makinde over his recent comments suggesting that President Bola Tinubu had asked him to “organise” the APC in Oyo State.

According to the APC spokesperson, such a claim was misleading and politically inappropriate.

“It should be on record that there was never a time that Oyo APC required reorganisation in the hand of Makinde, who has emerged chief pall bearer of the PDP, which gave him the platform to be a governor for two consecutive times,” Sadare stated.

He further argued that any of the party’s governorship hopefuls possessed greater leadership capacity than the incumbent governor, accusing Makinde of focusing on “window dressing” while inflicting hardship on residents and property owners across the state.

Growing Calls for Transparency

Analysts note that the controversy reflects broader concerns about transparency in emergency funding and disaster management across Nigeria. While the state government maintains that it has acted responsibly, opposition figures insist that clearer documentation and public disclosure are necessary to restore public trust.

As of the time of filing this report, the Oyo State Government has not released detailed financial records on the alleged ₦50 billion intervention fund, leaving the matter firmly in the realm of political and public scrutiny.

Akahi News will continue to monitor developments surrounding the controversy and provide verified updates as more facts emerge.

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