Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has revealed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s remarks at his 65th birthday party angered him so deeply that he felt like grabbing the microphone from the elder statesman and hitting him with it.
Fayose spoke in an interview where he narrated the sequence of events leading to his recent birthday celebration.
At his 65th birthday party in Lagos, Obasanjo made some scathing remarks while recalling how Fayose abused him in the past but said he had forgiven Fayose.
Obasanjo recalled how Fayose sent emissaries including former Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka, to midwife the reconciliation.
The former president also recalled how he scolded Fayose and his wife during the process he was being persuaded to grace the birthday party.
“I told your wife, ‘Madam, you and your husband, you are not Omoluabi.’ She admitted and said ‘Baba, you are right. Please, forgive us.’ Then, when you get that, what else can I do?
“So, you have asked for forgiveness and as far as I’m concerned you are forgiven. But the right lessons must be learnt,” Obasanjo said.
While Obasanjo’s remarks lasted, Fayose kept his cool.
But barely 48 hours after the party, Fayose renewed hostility in a ‘Thank You’ text message sent to Obasanjo.
A statement made available to newsmen in Abeokuta Ogun State by Obasanjo’s Media Aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, quoted Fayose to have called Obasanjo unprintable names.
His text reads “Dear Baba Obasanjo, I trust this meets you well.Your coming to my birthday party, 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.”
Speaking in an interview, Fayose said two weeks before the event, he decided to mend fences with several people he had fallen out with politically.
“Whatever differences we have had in the past, let’s put it behind. If I have offended you, if you have offended me, let us put it behind,” he said.
He explained that he reached out to Obasanjo through a mutual friend, Osita, who provided the former president’s phone number.
Fayose, however, insisted that his call to Obasanjo was not an apology.
“I never called to go and apologise to Baba. I did not offend him. He was the one that removed me from office. If anybody should apologise, it is him,” he said.
He said Obasanjo welcomed him to his home days before the celebration and even assured him that he would attend the event despite another engagement in Rwanda.
He added that at Obasanjo’s request, he arranged money for the former president’s travel logistics.
“We took pictures together. All in good faith,” he said.
“I changed $20,000 and gave it to him. How can you accept somebody’s money and come and be spiting that person?”
According to Fayose, the first sign of trouble came when Obasanjo insisted on speaking last at the event as opposed to the vice-president.
“Baba said he would be the one to speak last. I became suspicious,” he said.
He said Obasanjo later instructed the moderator to call the vice-president before him, only to demand that Fayose and his wife stand beside him as he gave a speech lasting “one hour, 14 minutes”.
Fayose described the speech as laced with veiled attacks.
“How do you say such things to a man on his 65th birthday?” he asked.
Fayose said it was at this point that his anger peaked.
“I was enraged. I felt like taking the mic from Obasanjo’s hand and hitting it on his head. This is being sincere,” he narrated
“But to show maturity, not by age, and the love I have for myself and the presence of the vice-president, I just kept my cool.”
Fayose said his attempt to reconcile with the former president was made “in good conscience”, but that Obasanjo’s behaviour proved he was not interested in peace.
“If I knew this was how it would end, what do I need Obasanjo for? Am I contesting the election? Do I need his validation? No,” he said.