Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has opened up about a tense and dramatic moment during his recent 65th birthday celebration, revealing that he was so provoked by former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s speech that he felt like grabbing the microphone from him and striking him with it.
In a candid interview, Fayose recounted the events leading up to the controversial exchange. He said two weeks before the celebration, he made a conscious decision to reconcile with political foes, including Obasanjo.
“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,” Fayose said.
He reached out to Obasanjo through a mutual friend and visited him at his residence. Despite claiming he never went to apologise, insisting that Obasanjo wronged him by orchestrating his removal from office , Fayose said they took pictures and he even handed the former president $20,000 for travel logistics.
“I never called to apologise. I did not offend him. He was the one who removed me from office,” he emphasized.
However, the former governor said he became suspicious when Obasanjo insisted on giving the final speech at the birthday event, overriding protocol that placed the Vice President ahead of him.
What followed, according to Fayose, was a speech that lasted over an hour and was filled with veiled jabs.
“I was enraged. I felt like taking the mic from Obasanjo’s hand and hitting it on his head,” he admitted. “But to show maturity and because of the Vice President’s presence, I kept my cool.”
Fayose described Obasanjo’s remarks , which included calling him “not the best” of his political protégés as uncalled for, especially on a celebratory day.
He expressed disappointment in the failed reconciliation effort, adding that Obasanjo’s conduct showed he had no genuine interest in peace.
“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,” Fayose stated.
The incident has since generated buzz across political circles, reigniting conversations about the long standing feud between both men and whether true reconciliation in Nigerian politics is ever really possible.
