When former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose invited former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to his 65th birthday, not a few were astonished by the former’s gesture. More surprising was that the ex-president honoured the invitation. It is no secret that there is no love lost between Obasanjo and Fayose, as both have often engaged in one feud or another. Therefore, many expressed scepticism about the assumed reconciliation. And they were proven right following the fallout that came shortly after the party.
Fayose, known for his controversial character, sent a ‘ thank you’ letter to Obasanjo, where he called him unprintable names two days later.
The “thank you” note sent by SMS read: “Dear Baba Obasanjo, I trust this meets you well. Your coming to my birthday party, I appreciate it, 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 to you at the function so that the world will know the difference between a sane and a mad man that you are. It is also obvious that you have also lost your sanity, or should I say, it is the heightened stage of dementia.
Not to worry, Baba, I shall set the records straight in due course of time. Lastly, I shall appreciate it if you return my money since you publicly admitted you received it, but Dangote brought you back. Your leopard will never change its skin.”
The former president replied tacitly: “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.”
As gathered, Fayose’s note was a response to Obasanjo’s remarks at his birthday party. At the event, the former president mixed praise with sharp rebuke.
“You are not the best of my political children, you are not… But you have made achievements that must not be ignored,” he said.
He added that the invitation to the event was not extended directly by Mr Fayose but through former aviation minister Osita Chidoka.
“When Osita came to me and said, ‘Ayo,’ I asked, ‘Ayo who?’ He said Ayo Fayose. I told him to tell him, the message has been delivered,” Mr Obasanjo said.
The former president also revealed that some associates had warned him not to attend because of Mr. Fayose’s past insults.
“Before I started coming here, some people called me… ‘Can’t you remember that he abused you?’ I said, ‘Thank you for reminding me.’”
Despite the rocky relationship, Obasanjo said Fayose had apologised to him in the past on more than one occasion.
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