Former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, has narrated how ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s comments at his 65th birthday celebration left him deeply offended.
He said the remarks were so provocative that he momentarily felt like grabbing the microphone and striking the former president with it.
Fayose made the revelation in a recent interview where he detailed the events leading up to the celebration and his attempt to mend fences with political rivals.
According to him, two weeks before his birthday, he began reaching out to individuals he had previously clashed with.
“Whatever differences we have had in the past, let’s put it behind. If I have offended you, if you have offended me, let’s move on,”
he said.
He explained that he contacted Obasanjo through a mutual acquaintance, Osita, who provided the former president’s phone number. However, Fayose insisted his call was not an apology.
“I never called to 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 declared.
Fayose said Obasanjo welcomed him warmly when he visited ahead of the party and even promised to attend despite having another engagement in Rwanda.
He added that, at Obasanjo’s request, he made financial arrangements for his travel.
“I changed $20,000 and gave it to him. How can you take someone’s money and then come and ridicule that person?”
he asked.
According to Fayose, the first sign of conflict emerged when Obasanjo insisted he must give the final speech at the event instead of the vice-president.
He claimed the ex-president later instructed the programme moderator to call the vice-president before him, only to demand that Fayose and his wife stand beside him throughout a speech that lasted over an hour.
“Baba spoke for one hour, 14 minutes. The speech was filled with veiled attacks. How do you say such things to a man on his 65th birthday?”
Fayose lamented.
He said it was during Obasanjo’s speech that his anger reached its peak.
“I was enraged. I felt like taking the mic from Obasanjo and hitting it on his head. This is me being sincere,”
he said.
Fayose, however, stated that he restrained himself out of respect for the guests, especially the vice-president.
“To show maturity — not by age — and because I love myself, I kept my cool,”
he added.
The former governor said the entire episode made it clear that Obasanjo was not interested in any form of reconciliation.
“If I knew this was how it would end, what do I need Obasanjo for? Am I contesting election? Do I need his validation? No,”
he stated.
Fayose maintained that his effort to make peace was sincere, but the encounter convinced him otherwise.
