Fayose Slams Obasanjo Over Birthday Remarks, Exchanges Heated Messages With Ex-President

Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose on Monday launched a new verbal attack on former President Olusegun Obasanjo, just two days after Obasanjo’s controversial comments at Fayose’s 65th birthday celebration in Lagos.

Obasanjo, speaking at the event on Saturday, had delivered sharp remarks about past insults Fayose had directed at him but said he had chosen to forgive the former governor. He narrated how Fayose sent emissaries, including former Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka, to facilitate reconciliation ahead of the birthday.

“You are not the best of my political children, but you have made achievements that must not be ignored,” Obasanjo said. He recalled that Fayose had contacted him indirectly through Chidoka and later phoned him personally. “Then you phoned me and said, ‘Ayo,’ and I asked you, ‘Ayo who?’ You said, ‘Ayo Fayose.’ I told you that you can see me anytime.”

Obasanjo added that Fayose was cautious about visiting him in Abeokuta and again used intermediaries—first Folusho, and then arriving himself an hour later.

The former president also recounted how he reproached Fayose and his wife during their reconciliation efforts. “I told your wife, ‘Madam, you and your husband, you are not Omoluabi.’ She admitted and said, ‘Baba, you are right. Please, forgive us.’ … So, you have asked for forgiveness, and as far as I’m concerned, you are forgiven. But the right lessons must be learnt.”

Obasanjo acknowledged that 65 years is a significant milestone and said Fayose had made political contributions worth recognising. He urged him to settle outstanding disputes with others and to also forgive those who had offended him.

However, a statement issued in Abeokuta by Obasanjo’s media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, revealed that Fayose later sent the former president an angry text message filled with harsh words.

According to the message attributed to Fayose:
“Dear Baba Obasanjo, I trust this meets you well. Your coming to my birthday party, which I appreciate, except for your very irresponsible comments at your age. You went so low, but I am not surprised because someone once said you are supposed to be kept away in the zoo. Sincerely, that’s where you belong.

“I kept quiet or did not reply you at the function so that the world will know the difference between a sane and a mad man that you are… it is the heightened stage of dementia. Not to worry, Baba, I shall set the records straight in due course… Lastly, I shall appreciate it if you return my money since you publicly admitted you received it…”

He concluded by saying, “Your leopard will never change his skin.”

Obasanjo responded briefly but pointedly:
“Ayo, thanks for your ‘thank you’ message, which undisguisedly revealed who and what you are, unchanged and unchangeable. Your money has been sent back through Foluso Adeagbo, who brought it, and in the same bag as he brought it, unopened by me.”

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