By Peter Omopo
Less than two days after former President Olusegun Obasanjo attended the 65th birthday celebration of former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, both men have reignited their long-standing hostilities, trading harsh words in a new public confrontation.
The latest dispute began after a “thank you” message, reportedly sent by Fayose to the former president, surfaced. In a statement released by Obasanjo’s Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, the former president described Fayose as “unchanged and unchangeable,” suggesting the former governor had not evolved in character or conduct.
Fayose, in the alleged message addressed to Obasanjo, sharply criticised the elder statesman over comments he made at the birthday event.
“Dear Baba Obasanjo, I trust this meets you well. Your coming to my birthday party, I appreciate — except for your very irresponsible comments at your age,” Fayose 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.”
He further accused Obasanjo of being mentally unstable, adding that he chose not to respond to him at the event “so that the world will know the difference between a sane and a mad man.”
Fayose also demanded the return of what he described as his money, which he claimed Obasanjo had acknowledged receiving.
“Not to worry, Baba. I shall set the records straight in due course. Lastly, I shall appreciate if you return my money since you publicly admitted you received it but Dangote brought you back.”
In a swift reply issued on Monday, Obasanjo dismissed Fayose’s remarks and confirmed that the money in question had already been returned.
“‘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 renewed spat has revived debates about the rocky relationship between both political figures, coming unexpectedly after they appeared together in public for the first time in years during Fayose’s birthday celebration.
