Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose revived their long-running feud on Monday after Fayose launched another round of harsh criticism at the 89-year-old former leader, referring to him as someone who “belongs in the zoo.”
Their dispute dates back to the early 2000s during Obasanjo’s presidency, when Fayose was governor. At the time, Obasanjo directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate Fayose over an alleged corruption scandal involving a poultry project. The episode permanently strained their relationship, with Fayose frequently accusing Obasanjo of questionable conduct, including using illicit funds to establish the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Ogun State. He has long demanded a refund of the N10 million he contributed to the project.
In a surprising development, however, Fayose recently visited Obasanjo at his residence to personally invite him to his 65th birthday celebration. Despite the gesture, old tensions resurfaced during the Lagos event, where Obasanjo attended as the special guest of honour. The former president reminded guests that Fayose had repeatedly insulted him publicly over the years.
Obasanjo noted that although Fayose had apologised several times, he always returned to the same pattern of verbal attacks, which Obasanjo described as evidence of arrogance. He said he was surprised Fayose still dared to extend an invitation.
Speaking at the birthday event, Obasanjo recounted conversations with people who questioned his decision to attend. He explained that regardless of Fayose’s behaviour, he still considered him “one of his political children.” He referenced a Yoruba proverb suggesting that even a difficult child should not be abandoned to danger. Obasanjo added, however, that Fayose was “not the best” among his political protégés, though he acknowledged that the former governor had made notable achievements.
He revealed that Fayose, seemingly unsure of how to approach him, first sent a former minister, Osita Chidoka, to discreetly ask whether he would attend the birthday celebration. Obasanjo reminded Fayose that he and his wife had previously visited him at former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s home to ask for forgiveness. He said that although he accepted their apologies, Fayose continued to publicly criticise him even after apologising again at his home.
Addressing the issue of Fayose’s demand for a refund, Obasanjo clarified that he never requested contributions for his library project. According to him, state governors collectively decided to support it, and Fayose participated of his own accord.
Obasanjo also pointed out that he had never asked Fayose for financial assistance—except recently, when Fayose urged him to return early from a trip to Kigali, Rwanda, to attend the birthday event. Obasanjo said he told Fayose he could not adjust his travel plans using his retirement funds, after which Aliko Dangote provided the aircraft that brought him back. He added that the money Fayose later sent through Foluso was never spent.
He suggested that Fayose’s birthday celebration appeared partly aimed at reconciling with individuals he had clashed with over the years. Obasanjo encouraged him to continue mending fences, stressing that forgiveness and genuine repentance are important virtues.
