‘You’re not the best of my political children’ | ‘Your comments are irresponsible’ — Obasanjo, Fayose trade words

Ayo Fayose, ex-governor of Ekiti, has sent a blistering message to former President Olusegun Obasanjo accusing him of making “irresponsible comments” at his 65th birthday celebration.

Kehinde Akinyemi, special assistant on media to Obasanjo, unveiled Fayose’s message which was framed as a “thank you” note to the former president.

In the message, Fayose expressed appreciation to the former president for attending his birthday party before launching a barrage of insults.

“Your coming to my birthday party, I appreciate except for your very irresponsible comments at your age,” he wrote.

“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.”

The former governor added that he refrained from responding to the comments made at the event so that “the world will know the difference between a sane and a mad man”.

Fayose accused Obasanjo of suffering from “the heightened stage of dementia” and said he would “set the records straight in due course”.

Fayose also demanded a refund of money he claimed Obasanjo acknowledged receiving in public, adding that Aliko Dangote intervened to return him home.

“Lastly, I shall appreciate if you return my money since you publicly admitted you received but Dangote brought you back,” Fayose said.

In his brief response, Obasanjo, thanked Fayose for the message and said he had returned the money allegedly sent to him.

“Ayo, thanks for your ‘Thank You’ message which undisguisedly revealed who and what you are, unchanged and unchangeable,” Obasanjo wrote.

“Your money has been sent back through Foluso Adeagbo who brought it and in the same bag as he brought it unopened by me.”

The exchange comes about 48 hours after Obasanjo publicly reflected on his long-running feud with Fayose, describing him as “not the best” of his political protégés but acknowledging his political accomplishments.

Obasanjo spoke at Fayose’s birthday ceremony held in Lagos on Saturday.

The two men have had a turbulent relationship dating back nearly two decades, including the 2006 impeachment saga, the declaration of emergency rule in Ekiti, and repeated public spats in the years that followed.

Akinyemi said the former president considered the matter closed after returning the money.