By Peter.
Former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has disclosed that he nearly lost his temper during his 65th birthday celebration in Lagos, impulsively wanting to snatch the microphone from ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and strike him over perceived insults.
In a recent interview, Fayose recounted the tension-filled event, where Obasanjo—his former political godfather—described him as “not the best” of his protégés while acknowledging his successes. Fayose, who initiated reconciliation two weeks prior via mutual friend Osita, emphasized: “I did not offend him. He was the one that removed me from office. If anybody should apologise, it is him.”
The Reconciliation Effort
Fayose clarified the outreach wasn’t an apology but a gesture of maturity. Obasanjo accepted, requesting $20,000 for travel (despite a Rwanda commitment), which Fayose provided. “How can you accept somebody’s money and come and be spiting that person?” he fumed.
The Birthday Drama
Unease brewed when Obasanjo demanded to speak last—after Vice President Kashim Shettima—then adjusted to precede him, insisting Fayose and his wife stand beside him for a 1-hour-14-minute address laced with “indirect attacks.” Fayose seethed:
“At that point, I was enraged. I felt like taking the mic from Obasanjo’s hand and hitting it on his head. But because of the vice-president’s presence and for the sake of maturity, I kept my cool.”
He lambasted the speech as inappropriate for a celebration, questioning Obasanjo’s peace intentions: “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.”
Lingering Rift
Fayose’s 2006 impeachment and Obasanjo’s role in it fuel the bad blood. The incident highlights fragile elite reconciliations—Fayose’s olive branch met with salt, reigniting their decades-old feud.
Nigerians react with memes and debates: Some hail Fayose’s restraint; others see Obasanjo’s barbs as typical. No response from the ex-president yet.
#FayoseVsObasanjo #BirthdayDrama #NigerianPolitics
