In an interview with The Punch, Oyo State PDP Chairman, Dayo Ogungbenro, addressed questions about the 2027 elections and Governor Seyi Makinde’s political plans, including a recent controversy involving Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, wife of former Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi.
Responding to the question of the allegations of misappropriation of the N50 billion given to Governor Seyi Makinde by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ogungbenro dismissed the allegation. He noted that such claims are politically motivated and lack substantive evidence.
He said, “After the blast, Governor Seyi Makinde went to the Federal Government, just like other states would do when there is an emergency. He reportedly asked for about N100bn, but the President was magnanimous to promise him N50bn. Of that amount, N30bn was said to have been released.”
Ogungbenro clarified that Governor Makinde had acted responsibly with the funds, using state resources to address the immediate emergency while leaving the N30 billion federal allocation largely intact, with records showing that nearly N27 billion had already been properly spent. He argued that such management does not amount to corruption or incompetence.
Turning to the political front, he stated that the PDP intends to compete vigorously in the upcoming elections, emphasizing that the party’s main concern is ensuring a level playing field for all contestants.
He highlighted this as a critical test for Prof. Joash Amupitan, a respected Senior Advocate of Nigeria, urging him and his team to demonstrate fairness and integrity in the electoral process.
Ogungbenro stressed that Nigerians often doubt election outcomes due to past manipulations, and that ensuring the people’s votes are genuinely counted would be a significant step toward building public confidence. See_More…