Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has opened up about the tense moments during his 65th birthday celebration, admitting that he was so upset by former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s comments that he momentarily felt like grabbing the microphone and “hitting it on his head.”
In a new interview with AF24 News, shared on YouTube, Fayose revisited the incident, explaining that Obasanjo had reignited their long-running political feud during his speech at the event in Lagos.
At the celebration, Obasanjo referred to Fayose as “not the best” among his political protégés, even though he acknowledged some of his achievements.
According to Fayose, he had tried to mend fences with several political adversaries in the weeks leading up to the event and had also reached out to Obasanjo through a mutual acquaintance, Osita Chidoka. But this outreach, he stressed, was not an apology.
“I never called to go and apologise to Baba. I did not offend him. He was the one who removed me from office. If anybody should apologise, it is he,” Fayose said.
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Fayose revealed that Obasanjo warmly welcomed him at his residence ahead of the celebration and assured him he would attend, despite having a prior engagement in Rwanda. At the former president’s request, Fayose also made travel arrangements.
“We took pictures together. All in good faith. I changed $20,000 and gave it to him. How can you accept somebody’s money and come and be spitting on that person?” he asked.
Tension, according to Fayose, began to build when Obasanjo insisted he must be the last to speak at the event—after the Vice-President—something the former governor said made him uneasy.
“Baba said he would be the one to speak last. I became suspicious,” he said.
He added that Obasanjo instructed the moderator to call Vice President Kashim Shettima before him and then directed that Fayose and his wife stand beside him throughout a speech that lasted “one hour, 14 minutes,” filled with what Fayose described as subtle digs.
“I was enraged. I felt like taking the mic from Obasanjo’s hand and hitting it on his head. This is being sincere,” he said.
“How do you say such things to a man on his 65th birthday?” he added.
Despite feeling provoked, Fayose said he held himself together out of respect for the vice-president and to maintain decorum. He concluded that his attempt at reconciliation was made in sincerity, but Obasanjo’s attitude showed he was not interested in peace.
“If I knew this was how it would end, what do I need Obasanjo for? Am I contesting the election? Do I need his validation? No,” Fayose said.