The former Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose is in the news.
He granted an interview on a very popular Television station based in Lagos and in the course of the interview, he made very serious and weighty allegations against the Governor of Oyo state, Seyi Makinde.
According to former Governor Ayo Fayose, Governor Seyi Makinde collected a humongous amount of money, 50 billion Naira, to be specific, from president Bola Ahmed Tinubu as support from the Federal Government to the victims of the Bodija bomb blast.
You will recollect that it was widely reported that Governor Makinde actually approved a sum of money which is less than 5 billion Naira as compensation for the victims of the Bodija bomb blast.
Former Governor Ayo Fayose raised other allegations against Governor Makinde in the course of the interview, but I wish to stay on this particular allegation because of its grave nature.
I have been trying to search for the reaction of the Oyo state Governor and the Government since that allegation was made against the Governor but I am yet to come across one.
I have seen several reactions from the public.
I have also seen some kind of a fight back from Governor Makinde’s soldier ants.
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I saw a very funny online news story where someone was lying on the floor and it was insinuated that the former Ekiti state Governor was at some point under the influence of some substance.
I saw some people saying that Fayose needs to substantiate his claim against Governor Makinde further.
I do not share that sentiments at all. This is a matter we can not trivialize.
What is at stake is by far greater for anyone to attempt to hide behind semantics.
If anyone goes public today and calls me a kidnapper on live Television, even, if he is lying, it is incumbent on me to at least deny the allegations.
In criminal prosecution, it is correct that he who ascerts must proof, even, he must proof beyond reasonable doubt.
However, if the one who claims to be wrongly accused, refuses to deny the allegations against him, the reasonable assumption would be that he has admitted to the correctness of the allegations.
You can’t claim to have been wrongly accused when you have not denied the allegations in the first place.
It is after you have denied the allegations that the onus to proof will now shift to the accuser.
In the circumstances, therefore, silence is not golden.
I have watched the interview many times, most especially, where Fayose made the claim.
He appeared cocksure about the allegation that Governor Seyi Makinde received the sum of 50 billion Naira from president Bola Ahmed Tinubu with respect to the Bodija bomb blast.
It is not also in doubts that Governor Seyi Makinde never mentioned the receipt of such money and neither is there a record of such been given to the victims.
Honestly, apart from denying the allegations, Governor Makinde must sue Fayose for defamation.
That allegation is too weighty to be ignored by Governor Seyi Makinde who is perceived as a saint by his diehard supporters.
If you ask me, I won’t be surprised if Governor Makinde decides to keep quiet about that weighty allegation.
Why do I say so?
A couple of years ago, he was alleged to have flouted the procurement Law of Oyo state when he awarded a contract for the procurement of exercise books to a Broadcaster ally of his.
The exercise books were allegedly awarded at an outrageous amount of about two thousand Naira plus per one.
When Governor Makinde was taken up on the matter by some journalists, he said he was going to investigate and if it was revealed that an exercise book was approved for more than three hundred Naira, he would resign as Governor of Oyo state.
Daring, you would say? Yes.
However, that was the last the public heard about the matter.
On another occasion, Governor Makinde awarded the contract for the Light Up Oyo for an initial sum of 28 billion Naira.
The contract was later varied to about 32 billion Naira plus.
In less than two years after the contract was delivered, Governor Makinde, through his Commissioner for Information at the time, Wasiu Olatunbosun admitted that the contractor failed to deliver to specifications.
The Governor promised to investigate the circumstances that led to the failure of the contract but the public never heard anything about the purported investigation till today.
Governor Seyi Makinde has a terrible weakness and that is the fact that he has surrounded himself by a lot of sycophants and gullible praise singers who would clap for him, even when he is dancing towards a pit.
Sometimes, when you engage those who claims to be his admirers you will shake your head in disbelief.
Shallow minded and noisy lots.
The day Governor Makinde decided to join those he claimed were rolling in the gutter, for a dirty fight, I knew he has gotten himself where his opponents wanted him.
Governor Makinde would face very tough times going forward.
The one he majorly accused in his Media chat would respond and when he does, I bet, Fayose’s allegations would be mere child’s play.
Sadly, Governor Makinde doesn’t have the firepower to contain such fiery unslaught.
Those who claimed to be his supporters are merely good at throwing tantrums on WhatsApp Groups, apart from the fact that they lack correct information about their hero.
The impending raging battle is beyond such childish play.
Yorubas used to say a particular proverb.
They say that he who is guilty and refuses to accept blames will bring war to his people. ( A jebi ma mo lo nko ogun ja ilu).
How did Governor Makinde became entangled with President Tinubu in the first instance?
He was a Governor, seeking a second term under the PDP.
He and four others joined together to work against Atiku, the presidential candidate of the PDP, despite the fact that they refused to exit from the PDP.
At that point, the five of them committed serious infractions against the PDP Constitution.
Governor Makinde got a second term through the backing of Tinubu but Makinde could not get a Ministerial slot from Tinubu.
I know that the details will come out soon but some of us and of course, Governor Makinde knows that he was the one who actually defaulted because he violated the condition given to him by the presidency in presenting the nominee and I challenge him to deny this sacred fact.
A lot of people are just following Governor Makinde blindly.
They lack correct information.
Tinubu was true to whatever arrangements they had with each other.
Though, I must say that some of us are actually happy that Governor Makinde has abused the undue privileges extended to him by president Tinubu as he often do with people.
Up till now, I don’t know why those who love to attack people like us have refused to look at Governor Makinde and those he had dealings with in politics up till now.
What happened between him and Hon. Mulikat Adeola, Chief Femi Lanlehin, Senator Sarafadeen Alli, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan, Diran Odeyemi, Ayo Fayose, Senator Ademola Adeleke, Hosea Agboola, Sen. Kola Balogun, Prof. Afonja, Hon. Ajibola Muraina and many more too numerous to mention?
Are all these people evil and Governor Makinde the angel?
When Governor Makinde decided to withdraw from the G-5 to restructure the PDP, did he deem it fit to tender an apology to those who remained in the party when he and others were destroying it in 2023?
These are questions Governor Makinde’s lickspittles will never answer but they are germaine.
Before he went ahead to waste time and resources on the jamboree organized in Ibadan, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki offered a brilliant advice.
He advised that the Convention be postponed for parties to pursue further reconciliation but Governor Makinde would have none of that.
The Governor of Adamawa state, who doubled as the Chairman of the PDP Convention Planning Committee pointed to the fact that there were Court Judgments against the holding of the Convention, coupled with the absence of INEC officials at the venue and said it was not within his power to give the go ahead for the holding of the Convention but Governor Makinde was hell bent on going ahead.
Now, the exercise have been rejected by INEC and Governor Makinde and his followers would want us to castigate Tinubu for that.
Like I said, the days ahead are going to be revealing.
Some of us would enjoy the drama as they unfold while the followers of Governor Makinde would continue to vibrate.
I am sure Governor Makinde would either come out to deny Fayose’s allegations very soon or perhaps, a litigation is loading.
If I see neither of the two actions or both, then I will assume Fayose just spoke the truth and it would not end there.
We will demand accountability from the Governor.
Sola Abegunde.
