‘You belong in a zoo’ : Fayose blasts Obasanjo in thank-you message

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday revealed the insulting and critical “Thank You” message he received from former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose following his attendance at Fayose’s 65th birthday celebration in Lagos last week.

Obasanjo’s Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, made the SMS available to journalists in Abeokuta.

While Fayose’s message expressed gratitude for Obasanjo’s presence, it also contained sharp criticism of what he described as the 89-year-old former president’s “irresponsible comments” during the event.

The former governor said he chose not to respond at the event to show “the whole world the difference between a sane man and a mad man.”

READ ALSO: US couldn’t operate in Africa without Nigeria’s approval under me – Obasanjo

Fayose also requested that Obasanjo promptly return the money he had sent to facilitate his attendance at the birthday ceremony.

The “Thank You” note read in part, “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 would know the difference between a sane and a mad man. It is also obvious that you have lost your sanity—or should I say, this is the heightened stage of dementia.

“Not to worry, Baba. I shall set the records straight in due course. Lastly, I shall appreciate it if you return my money since you publicly admitted you received it, but Dangote brought it back. Your leopard will never change its skin.”

Replying to Fayose, Obasanjo was quoted as saying, “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, in the same bag as he delivered it, unopened by me.”

While speaking as the special guest of honour at the birthday, Obasanjo recounted how Fayose had repeatedly abused him in the past without showing remorse.

He explained that despite seeking forgiveness several times, Fayose continued to insult him, displaying arrogance.

Obasanjo also said that Fayose did not initially invite him to the birthday, instead sending former Minister Osita Chidoka as an intermediary before visiting personally.

He said, “Some people called me and said, ‘We heard that you are going to attend Fayose’s 65th birthday. Have you forgotten how he abused you?’ But I said they should not worry. Irrespective of his character, he remains one of my children.

“But you are not among the best of my political children. Even to get me to attend this occasion, you could not approach me directly. You sent Osita Chidoka to sound me out. You later phoned me, and I said you could come see me at any time.

“Even then, you could not come immediately. You sent Foluso ahead to gauge my feelings, and you arrived about an hour later. When you came, you called your wife, and while on the phone, I said that both of you have not conducted yourselves well—Mo ni eyin mejeji kii somoluwabi [both of you are not Omoluwabi]. Your wife asked for forgiveness, and I said both of you are forgiven.

“However, I do not want the lesson of what happened between you and me in the past to be lost. You must learn from this.”

Obasanjo also recalled advising Fayose during his tenure as governor against investing in poultry on behalf of the government, saying the project was largely fraudulent and ultimately failed.

According to a trending online video of the event, the former president urged Fayose to seek genuine repentance and forgiveness from those he had offended and to prioritise integrity and humility in the remainder of his life.

(Punch)