I got what appears like a rebuttal to the statement credited to the former Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state, who alleged that Governor Seyi Makinde received the sum of 50 billion Naira from president Bola Ahmed Tinubu with respect to the unfortunate Bodija explosion.
A very senior colleague sent the online report to me around 11: 30 pm on Saturday.
After reading through the report, I got curious.
I had just released my thoughts on the interview granted by Ayo Fayose and I was emphatic about the fact that I was yet to see a rebuttal from Governor Makinde.
About an hour after I made the statement, I got the online report where it was claimed that Governor Seyi Makinde’s Chief Press secretary, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju ‘ spoke to the press’ about the controversial 50 billion Naira allegation.
What a coincidence?
Anyway, let us address Olanrewaju’s press statement on the face value.
I call it a press statement because it was not expressly stated that he addressed a press conference.
The report claimed that Governor Makinde’s Chief Press secretary, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju “addressed the press”, without stating where and when and he declared that Fayose’s allegations against Governor Makinde’ are baseless ‘.
He also said that the former Governor of Ekiti state lacks credibility and he made references to alleged reported altercations between Fayose and his siblings to back up his claims that Fayose lacks credibility.
He asked Fayose to provide proof of the of the allegations of the receipt of 50 billion Naira byGovernor Seyi Makinde from president Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
” He who alleges must proof”, he said.
I will take Olanrewaju’s statement as a tactical denial of the allegations by Fayose, however, I am worried that Governor Seyi Makinde does not consider such a weighty issue as one deserving his personal attention.
The difference between 50 billion Naira and the less than 5 billion Naira distributed amongst the victims of the explosion is too much.
Not only that, Governor Makinde could not stop at just asking his CPS to make a tactical denial at this point without taking it further.
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At this point, it is important that the Governor tells us how much he got from president Tinubu with respect to the Bodija explosion.
If he got nothing from the president, he should also speak up.
If he got less than the 50 billion Naira which Fayose quoted, he has to come clean at this point.
Oyo state did not vote for Olanrewaju.
They voted for Makinde.
It is also not Olanrewaju who was accused of receiving the controversial 50 billion Naira.
It was not Olanrewaju who called the Media to stoke the fire that is currently burning.
Like I said in my earlier piece concerning this controversy, this matter is too sensitive to be trivialized.
Olanrewaju’s statement is too casual.
The public is not interested in the credibility of Fayose.
What we want to know is what actually transpired between the president and Governor Makinde.
If the Governor didn’t receive 50 billion Naira, how much did he receive with proof?
If he received nothing, let him say so and all of us will help him to crucify Fayose.
It will also be in Governor Makinde’s interest to take Fayose to court for lying against him on Television.
That will of course remove doubts from people’s minds that he actually received 50 billion Naira from president Tinubu.
ALSO READ: 50 Billion Naira Allegation: Fayose Is In Soup, Makinde Will Sue Him
Former Governor Fayose said something that is very crucial and sensitive.
It has to do with the manner with which the money in question was transferred and received.
His revelation is weighty and that is the more reason a rebuttal in this circumstance could not be delegated.
It is not something a mere statement from the CPS could take care of.
Ayo Fayose said emphatically that the money in question was not received through the designated Accounts for Oyo state.
Or, is it that Governor Makinde, a billionaire, who started making millions in dollars since 1997, actually lend some money to the president and he just collected the debts owed by the president back?
Former Governor Ayo Fayose may or may not have credibility issues but his allegations have placed very serious moral burdens on Governor Makinde.
What is playing out before us is a season film.
It will be very interesting to see how it ends.
Before I drop my pen, let me ask Governor Makinde in plain terms, Y. E, did you receive any sum of money from president Bola Tinubu with respect to the Bodija explosion or for whatever reasons?
Please, do not mind former Governor Ayo Fayose, he might not have the correct information about how much you received from Tinubu.
Will you please lay this matter to rest by providing verifiable facts about this controversies?
Bi Ogun eni ba dani loju, a fi gbari ni.
Sola Abegunde.
